Everything You Need to Know About the AO26 Bracket Challenge

Highlights

• A Historic $10 Million Prize: The AO26 Bracket Challenge offers a staggering $10,000,000 AUD jackpot for anyone who can submit a perfect bracket by correctly predicting the winner of every single match in the draw.
• Guaranteed Rewards for Top Scorers: Even without perfection, players can win big; a guaranteed $10,000 AUD prize is awarded to the highest-scoring bracket in both the Men’s and Women’s draws.
• Exclusive to Aussie Fans: This competition is open specifically to Australian residents aged 18 and over, turning local knowledge and support into a potential fortune.
• Strict “Lockout” Deadline: Time is of the essence—all predictions must be submitted before the tournament begins on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM AEDT, with no changes allowed once play starts.

The Australian Open is back, and for 2026, the stakes for fans have never been higher. While the world’s best tennis players battle for the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, fans across Australia have their own shot at glory—and a life-changing fortune.

Welcome to the AO26 Bracket Challenge, presented by Nexo. This year, Tennis Australia has upped the ante with a staggering $10 million prize pool for the perfect prediction. Whether you are a die-hard tennis analyst or a casual observer, here is everything you need to know about participating in this year’s most exciting fan competition.

What is the AO26 Bracket Challenge?

The AO26 Bracket Challenge is an interactive prediction game that invites fans to forecast the outcome of the entire singles tournament. Just like the famous “March Madness” brackets in college basketball, your goal is to predict the winner of every single match in the draw, from the First Round all the way to the Championship Final.

Powered by Nexo, the official crypto partner of the Australian Open, this challenge turns the passive act of watching tennis into an active “game of skill,” as described by Tennis Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer, Cedric Cornelis. It rewards tennis knowledge, intuition, and perhaps a little bit of luck.

The Prizes: The $10 Million Question

The headline this year is undeniable: $10,000,000 AUD.

This massive sum is awarded to any eligible entrant who submits a perfect bracket. That means correctly picking the winner of all 127 matches in either the Men’s or Women’s Singles draw.

• The Catch: Achieving a perfect bracket is statistically one of the hardest feats in sports prediction. With upsets, injuries, and five-set thrillers, the variables are endless.
• The Consolation: If (and likely when) no one achieves perfection, you aren’t left empty-handed. The challenge guarantees a $10,000 AUD prize for the highest-scoring bracket in each draw. So, even if your perfect streak ends in Round 3, you are still in the race for significant cash if your remaining picks stay strong.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Timing is everything. The window to enter is short, designed to open only after the official draws are revealed so you can make informed decisions.

• Registration Opens: Thursday, January 15, 2026, shortly after 4:00 PM AEDT. This coincides with the official release of the tournament draws.
• The “Lockout”: Entries close on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM AEDT.
• Tournament Dates: The Australian Open runs from January 18 to February 1, 2026.

Important: You must submit your picks before the 10:00 AM deadline on Day 1. Once the tournament begins, all brackets are locked, and no changes can be made.

How to Enter

Participating is straightforward, but ensure you meet the eligibility criteria.

1. Eligibility: The competition is open to Australian residents only who are 18 years or older.
2. Platform: Visit the official portal at bracketchallenge.ausopen.com or use the official Australian Open app.
3. Create an Account: You will likely need to sign in with your AO ID or create a new account.
4. Make Your Picks: You can create one bracket for the Men’s Singles and one for the Women’s Singles. You will click through the draw, selecting winners for each matchup until you have crowned a champion.
5. Tiebreaker: Be prepared to answer a tiebreaker question (often related to total match duration or total games played in the final) to separate users who finish with the exact same score.

Strategic Tips for Your Bracket

While picking 127 correct winners is nearly impossible, winning the $10,000 top-scorer prize is a realistic goal. Here are a few tips to maximize your points:

• Respect the Seeds: In the early rounds, higher-seeded players generally prevail. Don’t pick too many upsets in Round 1 or 2, as losing a finalist early destroys your potential max score.
• Check the Surface Form: The AO is played on hard courts. Look for players who excelled in the warm-up tournaments (United Cup, Brisbane, Adelaide) earlier in January.
• Watch for “Dark Horses”: Every year, an unseeded player makes a deep run. Look for young rising stars or veterans returning from injury who might be undervalued by the rankings.
• Don’t Forget the Draw: A top player might have a “path of death” filled with difficult opponents, while another might have an easy road to the quarters. Analyze the matchups, not just the names.

The Nexo Partnership

The 2026 challenge is “Powered by Nexo,” marking a significant integration of digital finance and sports. Beyond the bracket, you’ll see Nexo’s presence throughout the tournament, specifically in the Nexo Coaches Pod. This feature highlights the strategic side of tennis, offering fans insights into the real-time decision-making between players and coaches—a perfect thematic fit for a bracket challenge that rewards strategic thinking.

Summary

The AO26 Bracket Challenge is the ultimate way to engage with the “Happy Slam.” It costs nothing to enter (other than your time), and it adds a layer of thrill to every serve and volley.

Checklist:

• Go to: bracketchallenge.ausopen.com
• Deadline: Sunday, Jan 18 @ 10am AEDT.
• Goal: Pick winners, have fun, and dream of that $10 million check.

Good luck, and may your bracket survive the first week!