‘Opening week’ of the Australian Open has begun. What is it?
SOURCE:Sydney Morning Herald|BY:Scott Spits
The Australian Open’s “opening week” used to be all about the qualifying in which players fight for the last spots in the main draw. Now it’s more of a music festival with qualifying, practice sessions, charity matches and a kid’s day on the side.
Melbourne’s annual sport and entertainment extravaganza, otherwise known as the Australian Open, is about to launch. It’s the first grand slam of 2026 but also, of course, much more than a tennis tournament. So, how much are tickets, who are the main stars, and what are the food and entertainment options?
From left: Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz and The Kid Laroi.Credit: Artwork: Michael Howard
When is it on?
The main draw starts on Sunday, January 18, and finishes on Sunday, February 1, which is later than usual.
The first round of men’s and women’s singles matches are slated to take place over three days. This is the third year that the tournament has started on a Sunday instead of Monday.
The extra day buys scheduling flexibility to deal with late-finishing matches, plus the X-factor of wet weather or extreme heat.
The women’s singles final will be held on the night of Saturday, January 31, and the men’s singles final the following night.
The 2025 women’s Australian Open winner Madison Keys.Credit: Getty Images
But if you include “Opening Week”, which Tennis Australia would love you to, the event actually starts on Monday, January 12.
What actually is opening week?
Starting on the second Monday of the new year, it used to be all about the qualifying tournaments in which players fight for the last spots in the main draw. Now it’s more of a music festival, with qualifying, practice sessions, charity matches and a kid’s tennis day on the side.
Before you know it, you have an Australian Open event lasting almost three weeks.
Here’s a full rundown of opening week:
Monday, January 12: Qualifying and practice. This is “kids go free” day, for under 12s. Youths (12-17) $15, adults $20.
Tuesday, January 13: Qualifying and practice. Kids $10, youths $15, adults $20.
Evening matches featuring top men’s and women’s players. Tickets from $29 include a ground pass.
: British synth-pop outfit Hot Chip, plus Melbourne DJs Milo Eastwood and O Honey. Tickets $69, including ground pass.
Wednesday, January 14: Qualifying and practice as above.
Evening match featuring top women’s players, followed by the One-Point Slam, in which amateur players try to win a point against pros, such as world men’s No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, to advance for a chance to win $1 million. Tickets from $29. From 5.30pm: Grammy-nominated British DJ and vocalist Elderbrook, plus Samantha Loveridge, Juno Mamba and Jordz. Tickets $69.
The Australian Open precinct map for 2026.
Thursday, January 15: Qualifying and practice as above.
Evening matches featuring top players including Alex De Minaur and Alcaraz. Tickets $57. From 5.30pm: Melbourne-born DJ Cassian, plus Willo, OLIIV and bellxsxs. Tickets $69.
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Friday, January 16: Practice as above.
Evening matches featuring top players including Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Tickets $57. From 5.30pm: Iconic Australian duo The Presets, plus RONA, a DJ set from Harvey Sutherland and Post Percy. Tickets $69. The concerts will be at an open-air stage at Topcourt, at the Birrurung Marr end of the precinct.
Saturday, January 17: Kids tennis day including activities, games with Hot Shots coaches and entertainment. Kids $15, youth $25, adults $30. 7pm: Opening ceremony featuring Roger Federer. Tickets $199.
How much are tickets?
Adult ground passes at the start of the tournament are $59, rising to $89 for the middle Friday and Saturday, and $35 in the final week. These are good value if you’re happy to roam around the outside courts, also with access to unreserved seating at John Cain Arena.
The cost of a reserved seat for the main arenas – Rod Laver Arena (centre court), Margaret Court Arena and reserved seating at John Cain Arena – varies considerably, depending on the session (day or night) and the stage of the tournament.
The starting price for centre court tickets is $79, but demand is high and prices fluctuate because of “dynamic pricing”, which means demand influences the cost in real time. For example, tickets for the day session on the first Monday (January 19) at Rod Laver Arena are going for $169. That night, a centre court spot starts at $199. A seat at Margaret Court Arena that day will set you back $135 for the day session or $89 for night action.
The AO spruiks the starting price for a men’s and women’s final ticket as $299, but demand was so strong this week that the cheapest ticket for the men’s final was $1449 on Ticketmaster.
Tickets for any individual session are purchased via Ticketmaster. Similarly, event “experiences” (which include hospitality with your seat ) are bought via the “AO Reserve” option.
Australia has one man in the world’s top 10, Alex de Minaur, while the top-ranked local woman is Maya Joint. In the women’s draw, 2024 winner Aryna Sabalenka, Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, two-time major winner Coco Gauff and the defending champion Madison Keys are the main attractions.
Denmark’s Holger Rune (Achilles) and Brit Jack Draper (arm) are the only top-ranked men missing through injury, while women’s stars Ons Jabeur (maternity leave) and last year’s pantomime villain, American Danielle Collins, will also be absent.
Performing at John Cain Arena in the second week are The Kid Laroi (Wednesday, January 28), Spacey Jane (Thursday, January 29), The Veronicas and Sofi Tukker (Friday, January 30), Reneé Rapp (Saturday, January 31) and Peggy Gou (Sunday, February 1).
Admission to these shows is with a separate ticket, which includes ground pass access.
There’s also pre-match entertainment at Rod Laver Arena each night (included in the match ticket), including Cody Simpson, Leo Sayer, Casey Donovan, Olivia Coe-Fox with didgeridoo player Neenan, and Jude York. Sophie Ellis-Bextor will perform at the men’s final.
Plus four nights of music and DJs at Topcourt, at the Birrarung Marr edge of the precinct, during Opening Week.
This is a new initiative in 2026, for which crowd favourite and six-time Australian Open champion Federer will grace his beloved Rod Laver Arena again. Federer will feature in a “battle of the world No.1s” with Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter. Crowded House are providing the entertainment. It’s not cheap, however. Adults tickets are on sale for $199 while a ticket for a “Roger Federer Q&A” goes for, gulp, $2500.
Roger Federer after winning the 2018 Australian Open.Credit: AP
What are the food and drink options?
Popular Melbourne eateries on site will include AO debutants Hector’s Deli (sandwiches and house-made sodas), Layla (a Middle Eastern-inspired menu), Shake Shack, Season (Vietnamese fried chicken), Ho Jiak (Malaysian cuisine), JollyGood (Melbourne burgers), Stalactites x Taverna (a Greek dining collaboration) and Suupaa (Japanese).
Returning to Melbourne Park are Entrecôte, Vic’s Meat – The Chefs Butcher, DOC, Fishbowl and Wonder Pies.
For fine dining in the AO Reserve, the restaurants include L’Enclume and Umbel (Simon Rogan), Bennelong and Quay (Peter Gilmore), Tasmania’s Agrarian Kitchen, SK Steak and Oyster, Brisbane’s Sushi Room, Victoria and Farmer’s Daughters and cocktail bar Caretaker’s Cottage.
Jason Jones’ Entrocote will be back as a dining option at the 2026 Australian Open.Credit: Eddie Jim
What else can I see and do?
Once the tournament swings into full gear, put the following dates in your calendar:
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January 21 (Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day): First Nations art, music, language and storytelling. January 27 (All Abilities Day): A celebration for the disability community.January 29 (Women’s and Girls’ Day): The same day as the women’s singles semi-finals.**
January 30 (Pride Day):** The tournament’s “Glam Slam”, a LGBTQ+ tournament on the final weekend.
Keep an eye out, too, for the AO Legends Cup in the final week, the tournament’s wheelchair championships (January 26-31), the AO Deaf Tennis Slam and the AO Intellectual Disability Tennis Slam.
How do I get there?
Melbourne Park is about a 20-25 minute walk from Melbourne’s CBD, along the Yarra River and through Birrarung Marr.
For those travelling by car, there is public parking at nearby Yarra Park. Designated ride-share zones along Olympic Boulevard are available.
The AO is easily accessible via public transport. Train travellers can exit at Flinders Street Station, Jolimont Station or Richmond Station. Pedestrian signs will guide you to one of the park’s three entrances.
Both players and spectators love the “Happy Slam” in Melbourne.Credit: Scott Barbour
From January 12 until February 1, AO ticket holders can ride free on route 70/70a trams.
There’s no need to tap your Myki, but ensure you have your AO ticket.
**AO entrance tram stops:
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Stop 7B – Rod Laver Arena / MCG Gates 1–3: Best for Garden Square access.
Stop 7A – William Barak Bridge: Short walk to Birrarung Marr Entrance.
Stop 7C – MCG Gates 4–7 / John Cain Arena: Cross the footbridge to Olympic Boulevard for Grand Slam Oval Entrance.
Fans can also walk from the new Town Hall Station as they would from Flinders Street Station, with access to the Birrarung Marr entrance close by. To mark the opening of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel, public transport users can benefit from free weekend travel until February 1.
How can I watch the tennis on TV?
Host broadcaster Nine (the owner of this masthead) has wall-to-wall coverage of the tournament.
Every court can be streamed online via 9Now and Stan Sport. You’ll also see plenty of the main matches through Nine’s free-to-air channels.
Nine has assembled a highly credentialed team of hosts and expert commentators – including John McEnroe and a former Australian Open champion Jim Courier – to cover the event from start to finish.
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Expert commentary will be provided by Courier, McEnroe, Todd Woodbridge, Jelena Dokic, Lleyton Hewitt, Sam Stosur, Dylan Alcott, John Millman, Casey Dellacqua, Sam Smith and Alicia Molik.
On Nine’s main channel, the hosts are James Bracey, Sylvia Jeffreys and Tony Jones, while on 9Gem you’ll see Georgie Parker, Nick McArdle and Brett Phillips in the chair.
Follow our live Australian Open blog each day from January 18 for results, news, analysis and interviews.
