2026 WTA Tour: Events in January and February
The 2026 WTA Tour season kicks off with an electrifying lineup of events spanning the globe, from the sun-drenched courts of Australia and New Zealand to the prestigious arenas of the Middle East and beyond. As players return from the off-season, the months of January and February offer a critical window for ranking points and early-season momentum. The following guide details the schedule, providing an in-depth look at each tournament slated for the opening months of the year.
January: The Australian Summer of Tennis
The season begins Down Under, dominated by the build-up to the first Grand Slam of the year. The “Australian Swing” is characterized by hard court action and intense competition as players acclimate to the Southern Hemisphere’s summer heat.
- United Cup (January 2–11): The season launches with the United Cup, a mixed-team event held across Perth and Sydney, Australia. Classified as a WTA 500 event, it offers a unique format where nations compete for glory, setting a patriotic tone for the tour. This tournament provides top players a chance to represent their countries before individual accolades take center stage.
- Brisbane International (January 4–11): Running concurrently with the opening week is the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia. As a WTA 500 tournament played on hard courts, it serves as a primary warm-up for contenders looking to fine-tune their games against a high-quality field.
- ASB Classic (January 5–11): Taking place in Auckland, New Zealand, the ASB Classic is a WTA 250 hard-court event. Often favored by players looking for a slightly more relaxed but competitive atmosphere to start their year, this tournament is a staple of the opening week.
- Adelaide International (January 12–17): As the tour moves closer to Melbourne, the Adelaide International offers crucial final preparations. This WTA 500 event in Adelaide attracts a strong draw of elite players seeking high-level match play just days before the Grand Slam begins.
- Hobart International (January 12–17): Held in the same week as Adelaide, the Hobart International in Tasmania provides an alternative pathway. As a WTA 250 event, it allows rising stars and veterans alike to compete for a title and valuable ranking points on hard courts.
- Australian Open (January 18 – February 1): The pinnacle of the opening month is the Australian Open in Melbourne. As the first Grand Slam of 2026, this two-week hard-court extravaganza draws the entire tennis world’s attention, offering the sport’s most coveted trophies and massive ranking implications.
February: The Middle East Swing and Global Expansion
Following the conclusion of the Australian Open, the tour transitions immediately into the “Middle East Swing,” featuring high-stakes tournaments, alongside indoor events in Europe and hard-court action in North America.
- Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (February 1–7): The post-Slam action begins in the United Arab Emirates with the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. This WTA 500 hard-court event attracts top talent willing to make the quick transition from Melbourne to the Middle East.
- European Indoors – Ostrava and Transylvania (February 1–7): Parallel to Abu Dhabi, the tour offers two indoor hard-court options in Europe. The Ostrava Open in the Czech Republic and the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, are both WTA 250 events. These tournaments provide vital opportunities for European players and specialists to shine on indoor surfaces.
- Qatar TotalEnergies Open (February 8–14): The intensity ramps up in Doha with the first WTA 1000 event of the month. The Qatar TotalEnergies Open is a cornerstone of the calendar, demanding the participation of the world’s best players on its hard courts.
- Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (February 15–21): The Middle East Swing concludes with another massive event, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Also a WTA 1000 tournament, it ensures that February remains a month of high-consequence tennis for the tour’s elite.
- Americas Swing Begins (February 23 – March 1): The month wraps up as the tour pivots toward North America. The ATX Open in Austin, Texas (WTA 250) and the Merida Open Akron in Merida, Mexico (WTA 500) offer hard-court action, signaling the start of the “Sunshine Swing” lead-up.
From the sweltering heat of the Australian summer to the desert courts of the Arabian Peninsula, January and February 2026 promise a relentless pace of competition, setting the stage for another thrilling year on the WTA Tour.
Table
| Date | Tournament | Location | Category | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2–11 | United Cup | Perth & Sydney, Australia | WTA 500 | Hard |
| Jan 4–11 | Brisbane International | Brisbane, Australia | WTA 500 | Hard |
| Jan 5–11 | ASB Classic | Auckland, New Zealand | WTA 250 | Hard |
| Jan 12–17 | Adelaide International | Adelaide, Australia | WTA 500 | Hard |
| Jan 12–17 | Hobart International | Hobart, Australia | WTA 250 | Hard |
| Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Australian Open | Melbourne, Australia | Grand Slam | Hard |
| Feb 1–7 | Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open | Abu Dhabi, UAE | WTA 500 | Hard |
| Feb 1–7 | Ostrava Open | Ostrava, Czech Republic | WTA 250 | Hard |
| Feb 1–7 | Transylvania Open | Cluj-Napoca, Romania | WTA 250 | Hard |
| Feb 8–14 | Qatar TotalEnergies Open | Doha, Qatar | WTA 1000 | Hard |
| Feb 15–21 | Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships | Dubai, UAE | WTA 1000 | Hard |
| Feb 23 – Mar 1 | ATX Open | Austin, TX, USA | WTA 250 | Hard |
| Feb 23 – Mar 1 | Merida Open Akron | Merida, Mexico | WTA 500 | Hard |
