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How much are tickets to the Australian Open 2026?
Ultimate guide to the Australian Open 2026: tickets, schedule, tips and Melbourne highlights
The Australian Open 2026 will swing into action at Melbourne Park from 12 January to 1 February 2026. From what to bring to how to make the most of a ground pass, here's how to ace a day at the AO.
The Australian Open is a much-loved event that showcases Melbourne to thousands of local, interstate and international visitors, plus a worldwide TV audience of millions. Held in January, it's a time when Melburnians and visitors alike enjoy summer festivals, school holiday activities and attractions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens and Melbourne Skydeck.
From 12 January to 1 February 2026, tennis fans can head to Federation Square to watch the action for free on the Big Screen (from 11am to late) or purchase tickets to see the world's best tennis players battling it out live across multiple courts. There's also a stellar line-up of music on the AO Live Stage, plus great food from some of the city's top restaurants on offer.
Whether it's your first visit or you're a seasoned AO veteran, here's how to ace a day at the country's best tennis tournament.
The Australian Open showcases Melbourne to thousands of visitors. Image: Visit Victoria
What to know about the Australian Open 2026
When is the Australian Open?
The Australian Open 2025 runs from Monday 12 January to Sunday 1 February 2026.
What's on at the Australian Open?
The Australian Open operates over a three-week schedule. Here are the events running each week.
AO Opening Week (12-17 January 2026) schedule
- Qualifying Matches (12-15 Jan) - watch established and emerging tennis players compete for a spot in the main draw.
- Open Practice (12-16 Jan) - watch the world's best players prepare for the Australian Open at the Rod Laver Arena from 10am to 4pm each day.
- Opening Week Showdowns (13-16 Jan) - see champions sharpen up at Rod Laver Arena.
- Million Dollar 1 Point Slam (14 Jan) - see pros and amateurs compete for a $1 million prize at Rod Laver Arena.
- AO Autograph Stage (12-16 Jan) - meet the world's best, grab a signature and snap a selfie.
- Grand Slam Oval Nights (12-16 Jan) - nightly headline acts and summer vibes.
- AO LIVE (13-16 Jan) - performances from DJs and music groups like Hot Chip (13 Jan), Elderbrook (14 Jan), Cassian (15 Jan), The Presets (16 Jan) on AO's TOPCOURT.
- AO26 Official Draw (15 Jan) - the AO26 Men's & Women's Singles Draw reveals first-round matchups and potential clashes ahead.
- Opening Ceremony (17 Jan) - on the eve of the main draw, six-time AO champion Roger Federer will battle iconic rivals Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt in the Rod Laver Arena. There will also be a live performance from Crowded House.
Families with younger children will want to check out:
- Kids Go Free Day (12 Jan) - kids go free, with family-friendly live shows, games and racquet giveaways at AO Ballpark.
- AO Ballpark (12 Jan-1 Feb) - explore a family-friendly zone, with Hot Shots Tennis, racquet giveaways (12-16 Jan) and performances from kids' favourites like Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol, Gabby's Dollhouse, Care Bears, and Superman & Supergirl (12-16 Jan).
- Adventure Pass (12-17 Jan) - family scavenger hunt across the Australian Open precinct.
- Kids Tennis Day (17 Jan) - visit Melbourne Park for exciting entertainment and tennis action.
AO Week 1 (18-25 Janaury 2026) schedule
- Main Draw (18 Jan-1 Feb) - Grand Slam tennis from the world's best players.
- Evonne Gollagong Cawley Day (21 Jan) - celebrate Wurundjeri Country with First Nations music, dance, art and food.
- Hot Shots Day (22 Jan) - mini courts, games and activities for kids of all ages at AO Ballpark.
- AO Juniors Championship (24 Jan-1 Feb) - watch the talent of tomorrow's tennis stars.
- Kia Sunday (25 Jan) - celebrating 25 years of partnership between Kia and the AO.
- AO Ballpark (12 Jan-1 Feb) - family-friendly fun continues at the AO Ballpark.
AO Week 2 (26 January-1 February 2026) schedule
- Main Draw (18 Jan-1 Feb) - Grand Slam tennis continues from the world's best players, with the field narrowing until champions are crowned in the final weekend.
- AO Juniors Championship (24 Jan-1 Feb) - tomorrow's tennis stars continue to compete.
- AO Live (28 Jan-1 Feb) - live performances from The Kid LAROI (28 Jan), Spacey Jane (29 Jan), The Vernoicas + SOFI TUKKER (30 Jan), Reneé Rapp (31 Jan), and Peggy Gou (1 Feb).
- AO Legends Cup (27-30 Jan) - Australia takes on the rest of the world, with star-studded men's, women's and mixed doubles matches.
- All Abilities Day (27 January) - a showcase of the diverse ways that people with disabilities thrive playing tennis.
- Asia Pacific Elite 14&U Trophy (28-30 January) - talented 14-year-olds (and younger) from the Asia-Pacific region.
- Women and Girls Day (29 Jan) - showcases female players, featuring the Women's semifinal.
- Pride Day (30 Jan) - the LBGTQIA+ community sporting event of the summer!
- AO Wheelchair Championships (26-31 Jan) - world-class singles, doubles, and juniors tournaments.
- Glam Slam (30 Jan-1 Feb) - the only LBGTQIA+ tournament held at a Grand Slam.
- AO25 Intellectual Disability Tennis Slam (30 Jan-1 Feb) - Aussie player Archie Graham (AUS) will be going for 4 AO titles in a row against the world's top players with an intellectual disability (ID).
- AO25 Deaf Slam (30 Jan-1 Feb) - the world's top deaf tennis players take on top Aussie players.
- AO Ballpark (12 Jan-1 Feb) - family-friendly fun continues at the AO Ballpark.
Which stars are coming to the Australian Open?
The best of the best will once again go into battle for the Australian Open championship.
For the men's title, top tennis players will include world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic (10-time AO champion and world No.4), Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov.
For the women's title, top tennis players will include two-time AO champion Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Qinwen Zheng, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Daria Kasatkina and Danielle Collins.
How will I know which tennis stars are playing when?
Being an elimination event, it's impossible to know in advance who will be playing in which rounds and on which days at the Australian Open. The schedule for each day will be posted on the AO website the night prior.
Depending on who's playing, the big names will generally play on the stadium courts, and the best blockbuster matches are most likely to be held in the evening.
There are plenty of great events to attend at the Australian Open. Image: Visit Victoria
Where can I buy Australian Open 2026 tickets?
Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster.
AO26 tickets purchased from Ticketmaster will be eligible for resale via your Ticketmaster account if your plans change - but not AO Reserve tickets.
How much are tickets to the Australian Open 2026?
Tickets start from $10 for a one-day Opening Week Ground Pass, from $49 for a single-day Ground Pass, or from $139 for a 7-Day Ground Pass (26 Jan-1 Feb).
Reserve a seat at the John Cain Arena with a ticket from $69, at the Margaret Court Arena from $69, or at the Rod Laver Arena from $85.
Expect to pay more than $500 for stadium seats during finals rounds and book early to avoid disappointment; many sessions are already selling fast.
If you want to level up your Australian Open experience, there are also a range of VIP tickets on offer through AO Reserve.
What does a Ground Pass AO26 ticket get you?
A Ground Pass ticket gets you into the Grand Slam Oval, Garden Square, TOPCOURT, and more. You can also get into the John Cain Arena, although only into the unreserved seating area. Subject to availability and scheduling, you can also catch more tennis at the outdoor courts.
The exception is the Opening Week Ground Pass, which allows you into the unreserved seating at Rod Laver Arena to watch players practice up close.
If you want to see a game at Margaret Court or Rod Laver Arena, or reserve a seat at John Cain Arena, you will need to buy stadium tickets separately.
How can I get reserved seating to the Australian Open?
If you want to get into key games or to see specific matches, you'll need to buy a stadium ticket. Stadium tickets will ensure you have reserved seating at either Rod Laver, Margaret Court or John Cain Arenas, so you can come and go as you please.
Stadium tickets are sold as either day sessions or night sessions. If you purchase a day session, you can stay and watch tennis in the outdoor courts after 5pm. Night ticket holders cannot access the grounds before 5pm.
Stadium tickets also act as a ground pass, allowing access to all outside courts, as well as Kia Arena, 1573 Arena, and unreserved seating in the John Cain Arena.
Evaluate whether you want a stadium ticket or a ground pass. Image: Visit Victoria
Will food and drink will be available at the Australian Open?
There will something to satisfy everyone's tastebuds at the Australian Open 2026, including fine dining and food trucks.
What should I bring on the day?
A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must. There are free sunscreen stations and water fountains around Melbourne Park precinct. You can also BYO food and drinks, but note that eskies, hampers and containers bigger than 1.5 litres are not allowed. Food and drinks in glass, cans or ceramic containers are also not permitted.
Are there shaded areas at the Australian Open?
Most seats in Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena are shaded. Those three stadiums also have roofs, so if the heat rule (made at the match referee's discretion) comes into play, they'll be closed to cool things down.
In between watching matches, you can go for a walk outside. The outside courts have lots of shade to create a fan-friendly experience. There are also some shade structures all over Melbourne Park to help make it comfortable.
Is the Australian Open good for kids?
The Australian Open is a great day out for the whole family. There are change facilities, parents' rooms and pram parking around the grounds to help make your day out as seamless as possible.
Family-friendly activities include:
- Kids Go Free Day (12 Jan) - kids go free, with family-friendly live shows, games and racquet giveaways at AO Ballpark.
- AO Ballpark (12 Jan-1 Feb) - explore a family-friendly zone, with Hot Shots Tennis, racquet giveaways (12-16 Jan) and performances from kids' favourites like Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol, Gabby's Dollhouse, Care Bears, and Superman & Supergirl (12-16 Jan).
- Adventure Pass (12-17 Jan) - family scavenger hunt across the Australian Open precinct.
- Kids Tennis Day (17 Jan) - visit Melbourne Park for exciting entertainment and tennis action.
Is the Australian Open accessible?
Accessible seating is available in Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, John Cain Arena, 1573 Arena, Court 3 and Kia Arena, as well as outdoor courts 5-9 and courts 12-17.
You can purchase an Accessible Seating Bay or Deaf and Hard of Hearing Seating on the Ticketmaster website.
For Ease of Access Seating (for people with low mobility, intellectual disability, neurodiversity or those with an injury) and Enhanced Vision Seating (for people who are blind or have low vision), you can call the Australian Open Accessibility Line on 1300 308 999.
Service animals are welcome in all areas of Melbourne Park, Birrarung Marr and all public transport facilities. Guests with guide dogs and service animals are advised to purchase within these accessible rows in the arenas:
- Section 3 or 12 / Row T or U within Rod Laver Arena
- Section 11 / Row R in Margaret Court Arena.
There will also be live captions on screens around the site, three sensory rooms across the precinct, play commentary from AO Radio x Vision Australia for blind or low-vision patrons (bring your own headphones), and hearing loops at the Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena and Margaret Court Arena (must provide own headphones). Patrons sitting in the accessible seating bay areas on the Rod Laver Arena concourse level can also access in-seat food and beverage ordering
For any assistance, find Customer Experience team members in bright yellow shirts around the precinct and entrances.
Watch the Australian Open for free at Federation Square. Image: Visit Victoria
Which entrance to the Australian Open should I use?
There are three main entrances to the Australian Open:
- Garden Square Entrance - for best access to Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena
- Grand Slam Oval Entrance - for best access to John Cain Arena and the Grand Slam Oval
- Birrarung Marr Entrance (formerly City Entrance) - for best access to family fun at AO Ballpark.
How do I get to the Australian Open?
For help planning your journey, or finding the nearest car or bicycle parking, download RACV’s Arevo journey planner app for real-time public transport information, traffic updates and even closest parking locations.
Car
There is public parking in Yarra Park (EFTPOS only). Arrive early to secure your parking, as capacity may be reached before the start of the match.
For alternative parking options, visit the MCG website.
Tram
Take the Route 70 or Route 70a tram to:
- Stop 7A - William Barak Bridge: short walk to Birrarung Marr Entrance
- Stop 7B - Rod Laver Arena / MCG Gates 1–3: best for the Garden Square Entrance access
- Stop 7C - MCG Gates 4–7 / John Cain Arena: cross the footbridge to Olympic Boulevard for the Grand Slam Oval Entrance.
From 12 January to 1 February 2026, AO ticket holders ride free on Route 70/70a trams - just be sure to have your AO ticket.
Train
Catch the train to:
- Flinders Street Station - short walk to the Birrarung Marr Entrance
- Jolimont Station - stroll directly to the Garden Square Entrance
- Richmond Station - hop on a Route 70/70a tram to Stop 7A, 7B or 7C.
Last train services depart at 12am (midnight) during the week. Trains run hourly on weekends thanks to the Night Network.
Bike
Bicycle parking facilities are available at the underpass of the William Barak Bridge and Entrance A, as well as at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Batman Avenue. Don't forget to secure your bike.
