Wimbledon Transplants Iconic Turf to New York’s Central Park
NEW YORK, NY — The pristine, manicured grass courts of SW19 are officially making their way across the Atlantic. In an unprecedented architectural and sporting crossover, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has announced plans to construct a fully functional, authentic grass tennis court directly inside New York City’s Central Park.
From Friday, June 26 to Monday, June 29, 2026, the famous Wollman Rink—typically known for winter ice skating against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline—will be entirely transformed into The Wimbledon Court in Central Park. To ensure the pop-up surface behaves exactly like the legendary courts in London, the grass is being installed and meticulously maintained by Wimbledon’s own expert groundstaff.
The four-day activation marks a massive scaling-up of Wimbledon’s US presence. While the AELTC has hosted “The Hill in New York” fan activations annually since 2022, this is the first time American fans will have the opportunity to actually step onto real Wimbledon turf without purchasing a flight to London.
“We are delighted to bring Wimbledon to the US for a fifth successive year, giving New York’s devoted tennis fans a flavour of Wimbledon,” said Usama Al-Qassab, Marketing and Commercial Director at the AELTC. “Our four-day event will bring the celebration of ‘tennis in an English garden’ to New York’s iconic Central Park.”
The Event Schedule
The temporary grass-court venue will host a mix of star-studded exhibition matches, public play sessions, community outreach, and live tournament viewings.
| Date | Featured Event / Theme | Access Method |
| Friday, June 26 | The Wimbledon Court Invitational Iconic tennis legends square off in a friendly doubles exhibition. | Free entry via public ticket ballot |
| Saturday, June 27 & Sunday, June 28 | Public Play Sessions Lucky fans win court time to play on the grass, presented by Barclays. | Free entry via public ticket ballot |
| Monday, June 29 | Barclays Net Work & Public Viewing Youth employability program followed by live screenings of Wimbledon’s Opening Day. | Open to the public (Viewing area) |
Playing on Pristine Turf
For local tennis enthusiasts, the ultimate prize of the weekend will be the rare chance to play on the surface. Historically, grass courts are exceptionally rare in the United States, let alone a surface cultivated by the turf professionals responsible for Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
On Saturday and Sunday, the court will open up to everyday players. The slots—presented by Barclays, the Official Banking Partner of The Championships—are entirely free, but given the massive demand, they will be distributed strictly through a public online lottery system.
For those who don’t win court time, the surrounding activation area will function as an upscale British garden party. Visitors will be able to participate in free tennis clinics with professional coaches while indulging in traditional Wimbledon concessions, including authentic strawberries and cream, Pimm’s cups, and Champagne Lanson.
Serving the Community: The Bronx Connection
While the weekend relies on star power and fan engagement, Monday’s schedule focuses entirely on community impact. On June 29, the court will host a special tennis and networking session for young people aged 15 to 24 from the Barclays Net Work initiative.
Co-funded by Barclays and Wimbledon, this targeted youth employment and skills program operates out of the Bronx in partnership with the nonprofit organization Good Shepherd Services. The program utilizes tennis as a vehicle for developing core employability and life skills. Since its launch, the initiative has successfully upskilled 143 young adults and directly guided 49 participants into stable employment—focusing heavily on individuals who are currently unemployed, disconnected from standard education pathways, or navigating past experiences with the justice system.
Following the youth session, the event will pivot to a massive, open-air viewing party. Giant digital screens erected around Wollman Rink will broadcast live, opening-day matches from London as the 2026 tournament officially gets underway, allowing New Yorkers to experience the historic morning matches in real-time.