2026 British Open Snooker: Dates, Venue, Schedule, Prize Money and How to Watch.

The 2026 Unibet British Open is set to return as one of the most exciting events on the World Snooker Tour calendar. Scheduled from August 31 to September 6, 2026, the tournament will be the third ranking event of the 2026-27 snooker season and will once again feature its unique FA Cup-style random draw format.

With top players competing for the prestigious Clive Everton Trophy and a substantial prize fund, the British Open promises a week of high-quality snooker action in Cheltenham.

When is the 2026 British Open Snooker?

The 2026 British Open will take place from Monday, August 31, to Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Key Dates

• Qualifying Rounds: July 23-24, 2026
• Main Tournament: August 31-September 6, 2026
• Final: September 6, 2026

Where is the 2026 British Open Being Held?

The main stages of the tournament will be hosted at The Centaur, located within Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham, England.

Venue Details

• Venue: The Centaur
• Location: Cheltenham Racecourse
• City: Cheltenham
• Country: England

2026 British Open Snooker Format

One of the standout features of the British Open is its FA Cup-style random draw, which creates unpredictable matchups throughout the tournament.

Unlike many ranking events that use a fixed bracket, the British Open redraws players after each round, increasing the possibility of surprise encounters and giant-killing performances.

Match Format

• Early Rounds: Best of 7 frames
• Quarter-finals: Best of 9 frames
• Semi-finals: Best of 11 frames
• Final: Best of 19 frames

The random draw format has become a fan favorite, adding extra excitement and unpredictability to every stage of the competition.

2026 British Open Snooker Schedule

The tournament will run over seven days, with multiple sessions scheduled daily.

Round-by-Round Schedule

Stage	Dates	Format
Early Rounds	August 31-September 3	Best of 7
Quarter-finals	September 4	Best of 9
Semi-finals	September 5	Best of 11
Final	September 6	Best of 19

Daily Session Times

Matches are expected to be played across three daily sessions:

• Morning Session: 10:00 BST
• Afternoon Session: 13:00 BST
• Evening Session: 19:00 BST

Official session schedules and table allocations will be confirmed closer to the tournament.

2026 British Open Prize Money

The British Open continues to offer a lucrative prize fund, with a total purse of £500,000.

The tournament winner will receive £100,000 and lift the prestigious Clive Everton Trophy.

Prize Money Breakdown

Finish	Prize Money
Winner	£100,000
Runner-up	£45,000
Semi-finalists	£20,000
Quarter-finalists	£12,000
Last 16	£9,000
Last 32	£6,000

In addition to the financial rewards, valuable world ranking points will be on offer as players look to improve their positions in the rankings during the early stages of the season.

How to Watch the 2026 British Open Live

Fans around the world will have multiple options to watch the tournament live.

United Kingdom and Ireland

Live television coverage will be available through:

• ITV Sport
• ITVX

Additional tables and qualifying coverage may also be available via:

• TNT Sports
• discovery+

Europe

Viewers across mainland Europe can watch live through:

• Eurosport
• discovery+
• HBO Max (selected territories)

China

Live streaming coverage will be available through:

• Huya
• Migu
• CBSA-WPBSA Academy digital platforms

Worldwide option 

Fans outside the primary broadcast regions can watch matches live through the official WST Play streaming service.

Buy Tickets for the 2026 British Open

Tickets for all sessions of the tournament are available through the official World Snooker Tour ticketing platform.

Demand is expected to be high, particularly for the semi-finals and final weekend, so fans are encouraged to secure their seats early.

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