The winners at the first major on the tennis calendar this year will be a little richer than any of their predecessors.
Tennis Australia announced on Tuesday, Jan. 6 that players at the 2026 Australian Open will compete for a record $74.9 million in prize money, which represents a 16% increase from last year’s event. The winners in men’s and women’s singles will take home about $2.79 million, up from $2.35 million in 2025.
There are also increases in prize money throughout the bracket for participants who lose in earlier rounds, as well as qualifiers. Those who lose in the first round of the men’s and women’s singles competition will earn more than $100,000. Jannik Sinner is the defending Australian Open champion in men’s singles and American Madison Keys won the women’s singles title by upsetting world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne in 2025.
Here’s a breakdown of the prize money at the 2026 Australian Open, as well as an updated schedule ahead of the first major on the tennis calendar:
2026 Australian Open prize money
The Australian Open will award a record $74.9 million in prize money at the 2026 tournament. Here’s a breakdown of how the money will be doled out for the men’s and women’s singles competition:
All values approximate due to AUD to USD conversion
- Winner: $2.79 million
- Runner-up: $1.44 million
- Semifinalists: $842,306
- Quarterfinalists: $505,383
- Fourth round: $323,445
- Third round: $220,852
- Second round: $151,615
- First round: 101,076
- Q1: $27,290
- Q2: $38,409
- Q3: $56,266
Australian Open 2026: Main draw schedule
The 2026 Australian Open qualifying begins on Monday, Jan. 12, with the main draw beginning on Sunday, Jan. 18 and concluding on Sunday, Feb. 1.
- Sunday, January 18 to Sunday, January 25: Rounds 1-4
- Monday, January 26 to Tuesday, January 27: Quarterfinals
- Wednesday, January 28: Women’s semifinals
- Thursday, January 29: Men’s semifinals
- Friday, January 30: Women’s finals
- Saturday, Feb. 1: Men’s finals