The first major tournament of the 2026 tennis season is on the horizon.
By February 1, the draw will shrink from 128 men’s and women’s singles players to just two champions.
In men’s tennis, it seems the title might come down to a clash between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, both of whom have claimed all eight Grand Slam titles. Sinner, entering this season as a two-time Australian Open champion, could be a strong contender.
On the women’s side, defending champion Madison Keys will be vying to retain her title, although Aryna Sabalenka is considered the favorite. Coco Gauff is eager for her first Australian Open win, and it’s worth noting that Venus Williams is receiving a wild card berth, returning to the tournament after a five-year absence.
2026 Australian Open Schedule
The Australian Open kicks off on January 18 (evening of January 17 in the US) and will wrap up with the women’s final in the early hours of January 31 and the men’s final on February 1.
What channel will the Australian Open be broadcast on?
In the US, fans can watch the Australian Open on ESPN and ESPN2. To check the detailed schedule, visit ESPN’s site for the Men and Women‘s draws.
All matches will be available through the ESPN Unlimited streaming service, including ESPN+. Daily coverage from ESPN and ESPN2 will primarily occur in the evenings and at night to accommodate time zone differences.
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open for free
If cable isn’t your thing, you can stream the matches for free using a Live TV streaming service.
DIRECTV offers a great option to enjoy live sports at no cost during their 5-day free trial, which includes ESPN, ESPN2, and the Tennis Channel. After the trial, access more than 90 live channels starting at $49.99 a month.
If you’re hesitant about a full subscription but want to catch a specific match, consider Sling’s orange one-day pass. For just $4.99, it provides 24-hour access to everything available on Sling TV Orange, including ESPN and ESPN2. They also have weekend and week passes if you’re looking for longer access.
To see all the Australian Open matches, you’ll need an ESPN Unlimited subscription to watch all televised games, while the rest of the tournament will be on ESPN+.
Australian Open 2026 TV broadcast schedule
Here’s the TV schedule for the 2026 Australian Open. Remember, matches at venues like Rod Laver, Margaret Court, and John Cain Arenas will be aired live on ESPN Unlimited, while ESPN+ covers all other courts. All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.
Saturday, January 17 – Round 1
- 10pm to 3am – ESPN2
Sunday, January 18 – Round 1
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2
- 7pm to 3am – ESPN2
Monday, January 19 – Round 1
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2
- 11:15pm to 3am – ESPN2
Tuesday, January 20 – Rounds 1 and 2
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2 (first round ends)
- 9pm to 3am – ESPN2 (Round 2 begins)
Wednesday, January 21 – Round 2
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2
- 9pm to 3am – ESPN2
Thursday, January 22 – Rounds 2 and 3
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2 (second round ends)
- 9pm to 3am – ESPN2 (Round 3 begins)
Friday, January 23 – Round 3
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2
- 9pm to 3am – ESPN2
Saturday, January 24 – Round 3 and Round of 16
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2 (Round 3 ends)
- 8pm to 3am – ESPN2 (Round of 16 begins)
Sunday, January 25 – Round of 16
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2
- 8pm to 3am – ESPN2
Monday, January 26 – Round of 16 and Quarterfinals
- 3am to 7am – ESPN2 (Round of 16 completed)
- 9pm to 1am – ESPN2 (quarterfinals start)
Tuesday, January 27 – Quarterfinals
- 3am to 7am – ESPN
- 9pm to 1am – ESPN2
Wednesday, January 28 – Quarterfinals
- 3am to 7am – ESPN
Thursday, January 29
- 3:30am to 7:30am – ESPN (Women’s Semifinals)
- 10:30pm to 1am – ESPN (Men’s Semifinals #1)
Friday, January 30
- 3:30am to 6am – ESPN (Men’s Semifinals #2)
Saturday, January 31
- 3:30am to 5:30am – ESPN (Women’s Championship)
Sunday, February 1
- 3:30am to 6:30am – ESPN (Men’s Championship)
Where is the Australian Open held?
As always, the Australian Open will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.
