The first Grand Slam of the 2026 tennis season is upon us, with the Australian Open set to serve up high drama in Melbourne. Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys return, but face fierce competition from stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, all vying for a place in history and a share of a record-breaking prize pot.
How to Watch the Australian Open in the UK and US
For fans in the United Kingdom, live coverage of the Australian Open will be broadcast on TNT Sports. Viewers can also stream every match online via the Discovery+ platform. In the United States, broadcasting rights are held by ESPN and the Tennis Channel, ensuring comprehensive coverage for American audiences.
Key Stories and Tournament Schedule
The main draw of the tournament commences on Sunday 18 January 2026. The championship will conclude over finals weekend on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February.
All eyes will be on men's defending champion Jannik Sinner, who aims to match a rare Novak Djokovic feat by winning three consecutive Australian Open titles. On the women's side, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will be determined to reclaim the trophy after Madison Keys halted her hat-trick bid in the 2025 final.
History could be made by two young stars. Both Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are one title away from a career Grand Slam, needing only to triumph in Melbourne. Should Alcaraz win, the 22-year-old would become the youngest man ever to complete the set of all four major titles.
An intriguing subplot is the potential for a first Melbourne meeting between Alcaraz and Sinner, a rivalry that lit up the finals of the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open last season.
Record-Breaking Prize Money for 2026
The Australian Open has significantly increased its financial rewards this year. The total prize fund has been boosted by 16 per cent to an astounding £55.4 million, making it the largest purse in the tournament's long history.
The two singles champions will benefit most from this increase, each set to pocket £2.1 million. This is a substantial rise from the £1.7 million that Sinner and Keys earned for their victories in 2025.
