Australian Open 2026: Full schedule dates, start times for every round.

The Australian Open 2026 will be held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, marking the first Grand Slam of the year. The tournament will run across two weeks in January, featuring men’s and women’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles, wheelchair, and junior events.

As always, the event will open with qualifying rounds before moving into the main draw, culminating in the women’s final on Saturday and the men’s final on Sunday. Fans can expect both day and night sessions on the iconic Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena, showcasing the world’s top tennis talent under Melbourne’s summer skies.

Australian Open 2026: Seeds and Current Status

Seeding is based on the ATP and WTA rankings as of January 12, 2026 (the Monday before the main draw starts).

The lists you provided (as of January 5) appear to be projected or near-final top 10 seeds, but minor changes could occur based on results from ongoing early-season events (e.g., Brisbane International, Adelaide, etc.).

Top 10 Men's Singles Seeds (as of early January 2026)

Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner (defending champion from 2024 and 2025)
Alexander Zverev
Novak Djokovic
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Alex de Minaur
Lorenzo Musetti
Ben Shelton
Taylor Fritz
Jack Draper

(This matches your provided list closely, with consistent reports across sources.)Top 10 Women's Singles Seeds (as of early January 2026)

Aryna Sabalenka
Iga Swiatek
Amanda Anisimova (noted rise in rankings)
Coco Gauff
Elena Rybakina
Jessica Pegula
Madison Keys (defending champion from 2025)
Jasmine Paolini
Mirra Andreeva
Ekaterina Alexandrova

(This aligns with your list; some sources vary slightly on exact order beyond the top few due to recent form.)

2026 Australian Open Tournament Schedule, dates, start times for Each round

Below you will find the complete tournament schedule for the 2026 Australian Open.

2026 Australian Open Tournament Schedule

Dates: January 18 – February 1, 2026
Location: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Time Zone: Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)

Opening Round (Round 1)

Dates: Sunday, January 18 – Tuesday, January 20
Start Times:

Day Session: 11:00 a.m. AEDT
Night Session: 7:00 p.m. AEDT
Highlights: The first major test for seeded players as they face qualifiers and wild cards under the summer sun.

Second Round (Round 2)

Dates: Wednesday, January 21 – Thursday, January 22
Start Times:

Day Session: 11:00 a.m. AEDT
Night Session: 7:00 p.m. AEDT
Highlights: Early upsets often shape the draw; long rallies and late-night finishes are common.

Third Round (Round 3)

Dates: Friday, January 23 – Saturday, January 24
Start Times:

Day Session: 11:00 a.m. AEDT
Night Session: 7:00 p.m. AEDT
Highlights: The field narrows as top seeds start meeting tougher competition.

Round of 16 (Fourth Round)

Dates: Sunday, January 25 – Monday, January 26
Start Times:

Day Session: 11:00 a.m. AEDT
Night Session: 7:00 p.m. AEDT
Highlights: Known as “Manic Monday” in tennis tradition — every match feels like a mini-final.

Quarterfinals

Dates: Tuesday, January 27 – Wednesday, January 28
Start Times:

Day Session: 12:00 p.m. AEDT
Night Session: 7:30 p.m. AEDT
Highlights: Pressure peaks as semifinal spots are decided in front of packed Rod Laver Arena crowds.

Semifinals

Dates: Thursday, January 29 – Friday, January 30
Start Times:

Evening Matches: 7:30 p.m. AEDT
Highlights: The final four players battle for a shot at the title — often the most dramatic tennis of the tournament.

Finals Weekend

Women’s Singles Final: Saturday, January 31 – 7:30 p.m. AEDT

Men’s Singles Final: Sunday, February 1 – 7:30 p.m. AEDT

Highlights: The grand finale of the Australian summer — champions are crowned in front of millions of global viewers.

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