The summer of tennis is nearly upon Australia with the period culminating in the Australian Open grand slam.
As beautiful, warm weather sweeps through Melbourne, tennis is the number one sport in town as the world's best players duke it out.
Can Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys defend their singles titles?
AllSportsPeople explains the schedule for the Australian Open 2026.
MORE: Australian Open 2026 wildcards: Which players have secured main draw entry?
Australian Open dates: Start time for main draw, qualifying
The Australian Open singles main draw matches for men's and women's commences on Sunday, January 18 at 11:00 AM (AEDT).
However, the qualifying for the men's and women's singles main draw will start on Monday, January 12 and be completed on Thursday, January 15.
Australian Open 2026 singles schedule
| Day | Session | Date | Time (AEDT) | Feature Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Day | Sun, January 18 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 1st Round |
| 1 | Night | Sun, January 18 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 1st Round |
| 2 | Day | Mon, January 19 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 1st Round |
| 2 | Night | Mon, January 19 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 1st Round |
| 3 | Day | Tues, January 20 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 1st Round |
| 3 | Night | Tues, January 20 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 1st Round |
| 4 | Day | Wed, January 21 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 2nd Round |
| 4 | Night | Wed, January 21 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 2nd Round |
| 5 | Day | Thurs, January 22 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 2nd Round |
| 5 | Night | Thurs, January 22 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 2nd Round |
| 6 | Day | Fri, January 23 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 3rd Round |
| 6 | Night | Fri, January 23 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 3rd Round |
| 7 | Day | Sat, January 24 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 3rd Round |
| 7 | Night | Sat, January 24 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 3rd Round |
| 8 | Day | Sun, January 25 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 4th Round |
| 8 | Night | Sun, January 25 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 4th Round |
| 9 | Day | Mon, January 26 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's 4th Round |
| 9 | Night | Mon, January 26 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's 4th Round |
| 10 | Day | Tues, January 27 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's Quarterfinals |
| 10 | Night | Tues, January 27 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's Quarterfinals |
| 11 | Day | Wed, January 28 | 11:00 AM | Men's and Women's Quarterfinals |
| 11 | Night | Wed, January 28 | 7:00 PM | Men's and Women's Quarterfinals |
| 12 | Twilight | Thurs, January 29 | 11:00 AM | Women's Semifinals |
| 13 | Day | Fri, January 30 | 12:00 PM | Men's Semifinal |
| 13 | Night | Fri, January 30 | 7:30 PM | Men's Semifinal |
| 14 | Twilight | Sat, January 31 | 7:30 PM | Women's Final |
| 15 | Twilight | Sun, February 1 | 7:30 PM | Men's Final |