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The Australian Open 2026 is looming on the horizon. The season's first Major is a month away, and excitement for the same is already ramping up. Top players have already begun making appearances at various exhibition events this month, and have left fans clamoring for more.
The 2026 season will kick off with the United Cup on January 2, and will coincide with three other events during the week. After a fortnight of warm-up tournaments, the main draw of the Australian Open will get underway from January 18. Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Ben Shelton, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and other well-known names will begin their quest for glory.
The Melbourne Major is also known as the "Happy Slam", and for good reason. Aside from the showpiece event, there's plenty to look forward to before and during the tournament. On that note, here's everything to know regarding the schedule of the Australian Open 2026:
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Australian Open 2026: Qualifier Dates
A total of 256 men and women will enter the qualifying rounds with the singular goal of making the cut for the main draw. Only 32 of them, 16 men and 16 women, will grab the coveted main draw spot. The qualifying rounds will commence on Monday, January 12. The third and the final qualifying round will take place on Thursday, January 15.
Australian Open 2026: Draw
The Australian Open draw ceremony will be held on Thursday, January 15. A live broadcast of the same is usually available to stream on the official YouTube channel of the tournament. Live updates are also provided on the tournament's social media accounts.
Australian Open 2026: Opening Week Schedule
The Australian Open organizers sure know how to drum up anticipation for the tournament. They're set to go all out with the fan events before the start of the main draw matches.
The Opening Week will take place from January 13-16, and will feature a host of charity matches and fun activities. The Million Dollar 1 Point Slam has already created quite a buzz. The event is exactly as the name suggests, a solitary point will decide the winner of a match, and the champion will walk away a millionaire. 22 pros will go up against 10 amateurs for the prize.
Australian Open 2026: Main Draw Schedule
The main draw will run from January 18 to February 1. The first round will span three days, while the subsequent rounds until the quarterfinals will last two days each. The women's singles semifinals will be contested on Thursday, January 29, followed by the men's singles semifinals on Friday, January 30.
The mixed doubles final, junior boys' and girls' doubles finals, along with the doubles finals across all wheelchair events, will take place on January 30 as well. The men's and women's doubles final will precede the women's singles final on Saturday, January 31.The junior boys' and girls' singles final will be held on Sunday, February 1, serving as an appetizer for the men's singles final later in the day.
There are numerous other events happening during the fortnight as well. The AO Legends Cup will bring together stars of the past. Former Aussie pros will take on the rest of the world across singles and doubles matches. The four-day event will begin from January 27. The Kid LAROI, The Veronicas, and Renne Rapp are among the headliners for AO Live Presents, a series of concerts from January 28 until the conclusion of the tournament.
Australian Open 2026: Complete Schedule at a Glance
With three weeks of entertainment lined up, the Australian Open promises to be an unforgettable affair. Here's a handy guide to keep up with everything that the season's first Major has to offer:
