Australian Open 2026 Free Streams: TV Channels, Full Schedule and Preview for Opening Grand Slam

• Australian Open 2026: Sunday, January 18 to Sunday, February 1
• Daily start time: 7pm ET (-1 day) / 12am GMT / 11am AEDT
• FREE stream: 9Now (AUS)
• Access your usual streaming services with NordVPN (save 70% today)

Watch Australian Open 2026 live streams, as the biggest names in tennis descend on Melbourne Park for the first grand slam of the year. Nickname the Happy Slam for its positive vibes, searing heat and early-season fun Down Under, the tournament is the perfect winter warmer.

Having shared the past eight grand slams between them, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will again start as hot favorites to reach the men's final. Two-time defending champion Sinner is seeking a three-peat, while Alcaraz is the world number one seeking to win the one major that still eludes him. Should the Spaniard do so, at 22 he'll be the youngest to complete the set, but is without regular coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after their split late last year.

Elsewhere for the men, home hopeful Alex De Minaur arrives in Melbourne ranked at a career-high 6th, while former Olympic champion Alexander Zverev seeks his first major after reaching the 2025 final. Keep an eye, too, for Stan Wawrinka, who begins his final year on tour at the tournament he won in 2014.

In the women's singles, it's the big two who seem likely to go all the way again. Aryna Sabalenka is a two-time winner here and since 2023 her win-loss record in Melbourne is a ludicrous 20-1. The 27-year-old Belarusian won the Brisbane International, last week, so is already in good form. Sabalenka's biggest test is likely to come from Iga Swiątek, the world number two who won unexpectedly at Wimbledon in 2025. The Pole may prefer the clay to hard courts, but her movement and will to win are peerless – the 24-year-old also complete the career slam if she lifts the trophy.

Since Madison Keys beat Sabalenka and Swiątek back-to-back to take the title 12 months ago, the American has struggled for form but there will be fond memories of Melbourne that could spark a revival. US compatriot Coco Gauff is also in the mix, especially after she beat Swiątek at the United Cup recently.

Finally, in the first round, don't miss Venus Williams' return to the Aussie Open. The 45-year-old is back after five years away thanks to a wild card and is a two-time finalist. You'd have to have a heart of stone not to wish for a couple of big wins.

Here's how to watch the Australian Open 2026 tennis from anywhere, including worldwide TV channels, broadcasters and any free live streams below.

Australian Open 2026 order of play - Sunday, January 18

There are some huge names in action in Melbourne on the opening day of the main draw. Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, seeded third and first respectively and draw to meet in the semifinals, are second up in the afternoon and evening sessions respectively on Rod Laver Arena. Alcaraz faces Aussie hopeful Adam Walton, following women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who starts her campaign for a third title in four years against French wild card Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonoah.

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, starts her campaign against the unheralded Mananchaya Sawangkaew on Margaret Court Arena but the Brit has been struggling for fitness and form recently, losing the world No.204 Taylah Prestonso in Hobart last week, and that could go all the way.

The one match to watch, though, is the final match of the day on John Cain Arena, where a 45-year-old Venus Williams takes on Olga Danilovic, who reached the fourth round here 12 months ago. Williams has a wild card and has performed creditably since returning to the court and the seven-time grand slam champion will attract a huge crowd and swell of support.

Rod Laver Arena

From 7.30pm ET (Sat.) / 4.30pm PT (Sat.) / 12.30am GMT / 11.30am AEDT

Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Jasmine Paolini (7)
Alexander Zverev (3) vs Gabriel Diallo

From 3am ET / 12am PT / 8am GMT / 9pm AEDT

Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonoah (wc)
Carlos Alcaraz (1) vs Adam Walton

Margaret Court Arena

From 7.30pm ET (Sat.) / 4.30pm PT (Sat.) / 12.30am GMT / 11.30am AEDT

Maria Sakkari vs Leolia Jeanjean
Francisco Cerundolo (18) vs Zhizhen Zhang

From 3am ET / 12am PT / 8am GMT / 9pm AEDT

Alexander Bublik (10) vs Jenson Brooksby
Mananchaya Sawangkaew vs Emma Raducanu (28)

John Cain Arena

From 7.30pm ET (Sat.) / 4.30pm PT (Sat.) / 12.30am GMT / 11.30am AEDT

Arthur Ferry vs Fabio Cobolli (20)

Not before 9.30pm ET (Sat.) / 6.30pm PT (Sat.) / 2.30am GMT / 1.30pm AEDT

Elina Svitolina (12) vs Cristina Bucsa

From 1am ET / 10pm PT (Sat.) / 6am GMT / 7pm AEDT

Frances Tiafoe (29) vs Jason Kubler
Olga Danilovic vs Venus Williams (wc)

How to watch Australian Open 2026 for FREE

Free Stream

For tennis fans who live in Australia, you're in luck – Channel 9 and its streaming service 9Now is again the home of the Australian Open 2026 Down Under.

They will be showing every game of the tournament, including the main draw, doubles and even juniors.

You will need an account with a valid Aussie postcode (e.g. 2002).

Traveling outside Australia for the tournament? Use NordVPN to get past geo-blockers and tune in to the 9Now coverage.

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It's really straightforward to use a VPN to watch the Australian Open 2026.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For example, if you want to watch the 9Now stream, select 'Australia' from the listed countries.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to 9Now's website and tune into the Australian Open 2026.

How to watch Australian Open 2026 live streams in the US

In the US, the Australian Open 2026 is being shown on ESPN and the Tennis Channel, which offers a FREE 7-day trial to new users.

A Tennis Channel subscription then costs $109.99 per year or $9.99 per month.

ESPN Select will broadcast the whole tournament. A standalone subscription costs $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year, but you can also get their ESPN Unlimited package that includes everything ESPN has to offer. Or you can watch through the Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN bundle, which costs from $19.99.

Looking for an 'over the top' streaming option that carries hundreds of other channels? The Tennis Channel and ESPN are also available on Sling TV and Fubo.

For access to ESPN and the Tennis Channel, you'll want Sling Orange, which costs $45.99 a month, with 50% off your first month. You get access to over 30 channels, including the Tennis Channel, ESPN, Disney Channel and CNN.

To access via Fubo, after the aforementioned 7-day free trial, it's $84.99 a month ($20 off your first month) after the trial.

Outside the US for this tournament? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream of the Australian Open 2026.

Sling TV gives you live TV at an affordable price. The Sling Orange package includes more than 30 live channels including ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, Disney Channel and TNT.

New users get a huge 50% discount on their month, making it's a great choice for savvy sports fans.

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How to watch Australian Open 2026 live streams in the UK

TNT Sports' various channels, which are available via Discovery+, will be broadcasting the Australian Open 2026 in the UK.

You can get the channel by adding TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or pay from £30.99 per month for a Discovery+ plan that includes TNT Sports.

Don't want to miss any of the Australian Open 2026? Use a VPN to watch Discovery+ from abroad.

How to watch Australian Open 2026 live streams in Australia

Tennis fans Down Under are amongst the luckiest in the world as they will be able to watch FREE Australian Open live streams via 9Now.

Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action on 9Now as if you were back home.

However, if you're someone who wants to watch in 4K then Stan Sport is where you want to go. It costs $20 a month on top of a regular Stan subscription costing from $12 a month.

How to watch Australian Open 2026 live streams in Canada

Tennis fans in Canada can live stream the Australian Open 2026 on the TSN network of channels.

If you don't have cable, the TSN Plus streaming service costs CA$8 a month or $80 each year.

Outside Canada while the Australian Open is on? Simply use a VPN to watch from abroad.

How to watch Australian Open 2026 live streams in New Zealand

Sky Sport NZ is the Australian Open 2026 TV rights holder in New Zealand.

You can access Sky Sport through satellite TV or get a live stream with the Sky Sport Now subscription service starting at $29.99 per day or $54.99 per month.

Missing a game due to work commitments abroad? NordVPN will give you access to your home streaming service.

How to watch Australian Open 2026 live streams anywhere else

Across Europe, Eurosport (and streaming service Discovery+) has blanket coverage of the Australian Open 2026.

In the Middle East, beIN Sports has the tennis live streams. In Africa beIN Sports and SuperSport are the places to go, depending on your country.

In India and the subcontinent, it's Sony Sports Network, while CCTV in China and WOWOW in Japan are the most prominent broadcasters in Asia.

A handy list of broadcasters from all around the world is provided by tournament organizers here.

Away from home at the moment? Don't forget NordVPN will give you access to your regular streaming service.

Australian Open 2026 Q&A