How to watch Australian Open 2026 live: free streams, schedule, and TV channels
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Australian Open 2026 is the first Grand Slam of the tennis season, running from January 18 to February 1, 2026, at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. The tournament spans 15 days of competition, featuring men’s and women’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles, wheelchair, and junior events.
Main-draw matches begin on January 18, following qualifying rounds held from January 11–15. Play takes place daily across multiple courts, with sessions starting in the late morning local time and continuing well into the night. The women’s singles final is scheduled for January 31, followed by the men’s singles final on February 1.
Broadcast rights vary by country. In Australia, viewers can watch extensive coverage for free via 9Now, while in the United States ESPN+ streams every match live from every court, alongside coverage on ESPN’s TV channels. In the UK and much of Europe, the tournament is carried by TNT Sports through Discovery+.
Because matches are played in Melbourne, most live sessions air overnight or early in the morning for viewers in the US and Europe. This guide explains how to watch Australian Open 2026 live in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, where to find free streaming options, and how to keep watching while traveling abroad.
Where to watch Australian Open 2026
| Country | Streaming service | Free or paid | Typical price | Match availability notes |
| Australia | 9Now | Free | $0 | Free-to-air coverage via Channel 9. Includes live matches, replays, and highlights |
| United States | ESPN+ | Paid | $11.99/month or $119.99/year | Streams every match live from every court. ESPN and ESPN2 show featured matches |
| United Kingdom | Discovery+ (with TNT Sports) | Paid | £30.99–£33.99/month | Full live coverage of all matches when TNT Sports is included |
| Canada | TSN+ | Paid | Varies by provider | Live streams from all courts. TSN TV focuses on featured matches |
| Germany | Eurosport / Max | Paid | Varies by platform | Full live coverage via Eurosport and Warner Bros. Discovery platforms |
| Spain | Eurosport / Max | Paid | Varies by platform | All matches live through Eurosport streaming partners |
| Italy | Eurosport / Discovery+ / Max | Paid | Varies by platform | Full tournament coverage. Some plans include Eurosport via DAZN |
| Netherlands | Max / Eurosport | Paid | Varies by platform | Live streams from all courts via Warner Bros. Discovery |
How to watch the Australian Open 2026 for free on 9Now with a VPN
In Australia, the Australian Open is broadcast by Channel 9 as part of a free-to-air rights agreement. That’s why 9Now streams the tournament at no cost. Viewers in Australia can watch live matches, replays, and highlights without a paid subscription.
Outside Australia, 9Now is geo-restricted due to licensing rules. If you try to stream from another country, you’ll see a location error. At Cybernews, we use a VPN to change our IP-based location to Australia, which lets us access the same free streams while traveling abroad.
- Pick a VPN that works with streaming. Choose a VPN with reliable Australian servers and stable speeds for live sports
- Download and install the VPN app. Use the official app for your device and sign in
- Connect to an Australian server. This changes your IP-based location to Australia
- Create a free 9Now account. Open the 9Now website or app and sign up with an email address
- Start streaming the Australian Open. Open the live Channel 9 stream or Australian Open coverage and watch for free
Australian Open 2026 broadcast times in the UK and the US
Because the Australian Open takes place in Melbourne, most matches air overnight and early in the morning for viewers in the UK and North America. Live coverage typically runs from the late evening through early morning in the US and from midnight into the morning in the UK, depending on the tournament stage.
The tables below break down exact dates, typical live time windows, and where to watch in each country, so you can quickly see when to tune in and which service you need at every stage of the tournament.
How to watch Australian Open 2026 in the United States
| Tournament stage | Dates | Typical live time (ET) | Where to watch |
| Qualifying rounds | January 12th–15th, 2026 | 7:00 PM–7:00 AM ET | ESPN+ |
| Early rounds (Rounds 1–3) | January 18th–23rd, 2026 | 7:00 PM–7:00 AM ET | ESPN+, ESPN / ESPN2 (featured matches) |
| Fourth round | January 24th–26th, 2026 | 8:00 PM–6:00 AM ET | ESPN+, ESPN / ESPN2 |
| Quarterfinals | January 27th–28th, 2026 | 9:00 PM–5:00 AM ET | ESPN+, ESPN |
| Semifinals | January 29th–30th, 2026 | 3:30 AM–6:30 AM ET | ESPN+, ESPN |
| Women’s final | January 31st, 2026 | 3:30 AM ET | ESPN |
| Men’s final | February 1st, 2026 | 3:30 AM ET | ESPN |
In the US, ESPN holds the Australian Open broadcast rights. ESPN+ is the main streaming option and carries every match live from every court, including qualifying and outer-court matches. ESPN and ESPN2 show selected featured matches, as well as the semifinals and finals. If you want full access to the tournament, ESPN+ is essential.
How to watch Australian Open 2026 in Canada
Canada (Eastern Time)
| Tournament stage | Dates | Typical live time (ET) | Where to watch |
| Qualifying rounds | January 12th–15th, 2026 | 7:00 PM–7:00 AM ET | TSN+ |
| Early rounds (Rounds 1–3) | January 18th–23rd, 2026 | 7:00 PM–7:00 AM ET | TSN+, TSN (featured matches) |
| Fourth round | January 24th–26th, 2026 | 8:00 PM–6:00 AM ET | TSN+, TSN |
| Quarterfinals | January 27th–28th, 2026 | 9:00 PM–5:00 AM ET | TSN+, TSN |
| Semifinals | January 29th–30th, 2026 | 3:30 AM–6:30 AM ET | TSN+, TSN |
| Women’s final | January 31st, 2026 | 3:30 AM ET | TSN |
| Men’s final | February 1st, 2026 | 3:30 AM ET | TSN |
In Canada, TSN holds the Australian Open broadcast rights. TSN+ is the streaming platform that provides live coverage from every court, including qualifying and outer-court matches. TSN’s TV channels focus on featured matches and finals. To follow the full tournament live, you need access to TSN+.
How to watch Australian Open in United Kingdom
| Tournament stage | Dates | Typical live time (UK) | Where to watch |
| Qualifying rounds | January 12th–15th, 2026 | 12:00 AM–9:00 AM GMT | Discovery+ (with TNT Sports) |
| Early rounds (Rounds 1–3) | January 18th–23rd, 2026 | 12:00 AM–9:00 AM GMT | Discovery+ (with TNT Sports) |
| Fourth round | January 24th–26th, 2026 | 1:00 AM–8:00 AM GMT | Discovery+ (with TNT Sports) |
| Quarterfinals | January 27th–28th, 2026 | 2:00 AM–7:00 AM GMT | Discovery+ (with TNT Sports) |
| Semifinals | January 29th–30th, 2026 | 6:30 AM–9:30 AM GMT | Discovery+ (with TNT Sports) |
| Women’s final | January 31st, 2026 | 8:30 AM GMT | Discovery+ (with TNT Sports) |
| Men’s final | February 1st, 2026 | 8:30 AM GMT | Discovery+ (with TNT Sports) |
In the UK, TNT Sports holds the Australian Open broadcast rights, and Discovery+ is the streaming platform that carries TNT Sports. To watch the tournament live on Discovery+, your subscription must include TNT Sports. With that plan, you can stream every match from every court, including early rounds, outer-court action, semifinals, and finals. There’s no separate free stream for the Australian Open in the UK.
