How to Watch the Australian Open 2026 in Europe
The Australian Open 2026 kicks off the Grand Slam calendar with record-breaking prize money and high stakes at Melbourne Park. For tennis fans in Europe, keeping up with the action requires knowing the right broadcasters and streaming platforms, as the landscape has shifted slightly with Warner Bros. Discovery’s evolving platforms.
Here is your comprehensive guide to watching the Australian Open 2026 in Europe.
The Australian Open 2026 is broadcast exclusively across Europe by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Whether you prefer traditional television or digital streaming, WBD offers coverage through its various brands, including Eurosport, HBO Max, and discovery+.
1. Pan-European Coverage: Eurosport & HBO Max
For most countries in Europe, Eurosport remains the primary television broadcaster.
- TV Channels: Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 will broadcast over 250 hours of live coverage.
- Streaming: The 2026 tournament marks the first time that HBO Max will stream every match for viewers across Europe (excluding the UK and Germany where discovery+ is used).
- Highlights: Free daily highlights will be available on Eurosport.com and the Eurosport YouTube channel.
2. Country-Specific Broadcasters
While Eurosport is the standard, several regions have specific arrangements or free-to-air partners for key matches and finals.
- United Kingdom & Ireland:
- TNT Sports makes its debut broadcasting the Australian Open, replacing Eurosport as the primary linear channel.
- discovery+ is the exclusive streaming home for every match in the UK.
- Quest will provide free daily highlights.
- Germany:
- Eurosport 1 will provide extensive free-to-air coverage of matches.
- discovery+ and HBO Max are available for ad-free, all-court streaming.
- The Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden):
- Streaming is available via Max and discovery+.
- Selected matches and singles finals will be shown on free-to-air channels: 6’eren (Denmark), TV5 (Finland), Kanal 9 (Sweden), and Rex (Norway).
- Poland:
- Streaming is available on HBO Max and the Player streaming platform.
- Other European Nations:
- Most other nations (e.g., France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands) will rely on the standard Eurosport TV channels and HBO Max/discovery+ for streaming.
Tournament Essentials: Dates & Venue
- Dates:
- Qualifying: January 12 – January 15, 2026.
- Main Draw: Sunday, January 18 – Sunday, February 1, 2026.
- Women’s Final: Saturday, January 31, 2026.
- Men’s Final: Sunday, February 1, 2026.
- Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Key arenas include Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena, and Margaret Court Arena.
- Prize Money: The tournament features a record-breaking prize pool of AUD $111.5 million (approx. €68m / £57m).
- Singles Champions: AUD $4.15 million each.
- First Round: AUD $150,000.
Stars and Storylines to Watch
The 2026 field is stacked with narratives, from young prodigies to established legends chasing history.
Men’s Singles (ATP)
- Jannik Sinner (ITA): The defending champion returns to Melbourne looking to secure a “threepeat” of major hard-court titles (having won AO 2025).
- Carlos Alcaraz (ESP): The World No. 1 is chasing the only Grand Slam title missing from his cabinet to complete a Career Grand Slam at a record-breaking young age.
- Novak Djokovic (SRB): The 10-time Australian Open champion is aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title, continuing to defy age as a major contender.
- Alexander Zverev (GER): Fresh off a strong season, he remains a top contender for his maiden slam.
Women’s Singles (WTA)
- Aryna Sabalenka: A dominant force on hard courts, she will be looking to defend her title and continue her supremacy in Australia.
- Coco Gauff (USA): The young American star continues to be a major threat at every Slam.
- Iga Swiatek (POL): The multi-slam winner is always a favorite, though she will be looking to translate her clay dominance into another hard-court major win.
Rising Stars
- Jakub Mensik (CZE): A 20-year-old talent with a powerful game who has already notched wins against top-10 players.
- Learner Tien (USA): After a breakout run to the fourth round in 2025, this young American is one to watch closely.
- Maya Joint (AUS): The local hope has risen to become Australia’s No. 1 female player and will be seeded for the first time.
