The 2026 Australian Open Schedule, the first Grand Slam of the year, runs from January 12 to February 1 at Melbourne Park in Australia. Qualifying and Opening Week events start January 12, with main draw action beginning Sunday, January 18, and concluding with the men’s singles final on February 1. As the draw gets finalized, we’ll give you the latest printable brackets for both the men’s and women’s draws.
Who are the Defending Australian Open Champions?
Defending champions are Jannik Sinner (men’s singles) and Madison Keys (women’s singles). The tournament features hard courts at Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and other venues, with retractable roofs to minimize weather delays.
2026 Australian Open Schedule: Round-by-Round
The 2026 Australian Open schedule is set to kickoff on January 18th, 2026. Here is the schedule for you.
| Round | Dates | Notes |
| Qualifying | January 12–15 | Part of Opening Week; public access available |
| First Round | January 18–20 | Three-day start for singles |
| Second Round | January 21–22 | |
| Third Round | January 23–24 | |
| Round of 16 | January 25–26 | |
| Quarterfinals | January 27–28 | |
| Semifinals | January 29–30 | Women’s semis often earlier |
| Women’s Final | January 31 | Evening session |
| Men’s Final | February 1 | Evening session |
US TV & Streaming Schedule (ET)
Coverage airs primarily on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ (wall-to-wall streaming). Due to the time difference, live broadcasts often occur overnight/early morning in the US, with encores in the afternoon.
- Most days: Overnight from 7 p.m. previous day to 7 a.m. (ESPN+ full coverage), with featured matches on ESPN/ESPN2 from 9 p.m.–2 a.m. or 3 a.m.–7 a.m.
- Finals: Women’s (Jan 31, 3:30 a.m. ESPN) | Men’s (Feb 1, 3:30 a.m. ESPN)
- Highlights and encores on ABC/ESPN2 daytime.
Check ESPN listings for exact daily order of play.
Printable 2026 Australian Open Bracket
Download our free printable 2026 Australian Open bracket to fill in once the draw takes place and the bracket is released. You can view the blank 2025 Men’s Australian Open Bracket here to see how the tournament is setup before the 2026 brackets are released for the tournament.
Early Predictions & Favorites
The draw remains pending, but early futures odds highlight top contenders on hard courts.
Men’s Singles Favorites:
- Jannik Sinner (defending champion, dominant hard-court form)
- Carlos Alcaraz (dynamic all-court game)
- Novak Djokovic (record holder, always a threat in Melbourne)
- Others: Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev
Women’s Singles Favorites:
- Aryna Sabalenka (multiple recent finals, powerful baseline play)
- Elena Rybakina (strong serve, recent WTA Finals win)
- Madison Keys (defending champion)
- Others: Potential sleepers include rising stars with favorable draws
Key storylines include Sinner’s repeat bid, Alcaraz vs. Djokovic potential clashes, and Sabalenka’s quest for another title.
