Australian Open: Date, venue, format & more

Often dubbed the 'Happy Slam', the Australian Open is the first big event of the ATP and WTA seasons and the hard-court event is the first of four Grand Slam tournaments throughout the year.

As well as singles, doubles and junior championships, there are also wheelchair, legends, and exhibition events.

Italian ace Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in the men's 2025 final to claim his third Grand Slam title.

The women's event was won by American Maddison Keys, who overcame Aryna Sabalenka in the final to claim her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

Australian Open Dates

The 2026 Australian Open is set to begin in January 2026, official dates for the event are yet to be announced.

Australian Open Times

Main day sessions each day typically begin at midnight UK time, until the semi-final stage. Melbourne is 11 hours ahead of GMT, so the evening sessions will then get underway at 08:00 UK time.

Australian Open Venue

Having been home to the event since 1988, Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia will host the 2026 Australian Open, which is the first Grand Slam of the calendar year.

The venue's most famous courts are the Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena.

Australian Open: Melbourne Park Venue Guide

Australian Open format

The men's singles tournament typically features 128 competitors including 16 qualifiers and eight wildcards and the same goes for the women's singles tournament.

In the men's singles tournament, players compete in four rounds with the players divided into two halves. The top players are seeded appropriately.

Eight players then progress to the quarter finals which lead into the semi-finals and then the final. Each match is a best of five sets encounter.

As for the women's singles, the structure of the tournament is exactly the same as in the men's but players compete in best of three sets matches.

All three forms of doubles tournaments follow the same kind of format and are played as best of three sets matches.