When Does US Open 2026 Start? Schedule, Dates, and Venue Guide

Wednesday, 15 October 2025 at 16:54

Known as the final Grand Slam of the season, the US Open takes place in New York. But where is Flushing Meadows, and when does the US Open start in 2026?

Last year was the 145th edition of the Open, and it delivered some historic moments on its hard courts, with Carlos Alcaraz picking up his second US Open title by defeating Jannik Sinner in a thrilling final. On the women's side, we saw Aryna Sabalenka successfully defend her crown, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams to win back-to-back US Open titles. The tournament also featured a record-breaking total attendance of over one million fans across the three weeks of festivities.

Here is all the info you need to know about Flushing Meadows.

1. When Does the US Open 2026 Start?
2. Where Is the US Open Played? A Look at Flushing Meadows
3. What Is the US Open? History and Significance
4. How to get to the US Open
5. Key Dates for the 2026 US Open
6. Who Are the Defending Champions?
7. How to Get Tickets for the US Open 2026
8. How to Watch the US Open Live: TV and Streaming Info
9. What Makes the US Open (Flushing Meadows) Unique?
10. Why could the US Open 2026 be special?

1. When does the US Open 2026 start?

The US Open will officially begin on Sunday, August 30, 2026, with the men’s final concluding on Sunday, September 13. This follows the permanent shift to a 15-day main draw schedule that begins on a Sunday, a format that has quickly become a fan favorite for opening weekend action.

Before the main draw, qualifying rounds will take place on Sunday, August 23, during what is known as 'Fan Week.' This allows fans to enter the grounds for free and watch rising stars battle for a spot on the main stage. Fan Week 2026 will also feature the re-imagined Mixed Doubles Championship and the popular 'Stars of the Open' exhibition matches.

2. Where is the US Open played? A look at Flushing Meadows

The US Open is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, nestled in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York. The venue consists of three show courts:

Arthur Ashe Stadium- The centre court with a capacity of 23,771, the largest tennis stadium in the world, which features a retractable roof.
Louis Armstrong Stadium: Seats 14,000 fans and typically hosts high-profile early round matches.
The Grandstand: A small, intense venue that seats 8,125 fans and is known for its atmosphere.

There are numerous other outer courts and practice areas that make up the US Open, including fan zones that make the US Open more than just a tournament.

3. What is the US Open? History and Significance

The US Open was founded in 1881 and originally known as the US National Championships and has since become the US Open. The Open is one of four Grand Slams, alongside the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

The tournament moved to its historic venue, Flushing Meadows, in 1978 and has been there ever since. This saw the Open transition to a Hard-court surface, favouring big servers and aggressive baseliners. It was also the first Grand Slam to offer equal prize money in 1973. It is also the final Grand Slam of the year, which often adds drama as players seem to chase history, rankings and redemption.

ustabilliejeankingnationaltenniscenter usopen2018

4. How to get to the US Open

Getting to the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, is relatively easy, whether you're coming from within New York City, elsewhere in the United States, or internationally from Europe. From within New York City, the most convenient way is by public transportation.

You can take the 7 subway line directly to Mets-Willets Point Station, which is just a short walk from the stadium. Alternatively, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) also stops at Mets-Willets Point on the Port Washington Branch, offering a faster ride from Penn Station. While buses are available, the subway and LIRR are typically faster during the tournament. Taxis and rideshares are an option too, but traffic around the venue can be congested, especially during peak hours, and parking is limited.

If you're travelling from other parts of the United States, the most common approach is to fly into one of New York City’s major airports. LaGuardia (the closest), JFK, or Newark. From any of these, you can reach Flushing by taxi, rideshare, or a combination of airport trains and subways. Train travel is also viable; Amtrak serves Penn Station from cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., from where you can transfer to the subway or LIRR. Long-distance bus services will also get you into Manhattan, and from there, local transit can take you to the venue.

For international visitors from Europe, direct flights to New York’s JFK or Newark airports are available from most major cities with simple connections from there to the city and in particular, Flushing Meadows. Jessica Pegula, despite being lauded as a billionaire tennis player, was seen taking the subway to the grounds last year.

5. Key Dates for the 2026 US Open

August 23: Start of US Open Fan Week & Qualifiers

August 30: Start of the Main Draw (Day 1)

September 7: Labor Day matches (Round of 16)

September 10: Women's Singles Semifinals

September 11: Men's Singles Semifinals

September 12: Women's Singles Final

September 13: Men's Singles Final

Every day features two sessions, one in the day and one at night.

6. Who are the defending champions?

In the men's singles, Carlos Alcaraz will enter as the reigning champion. He reclaimed the title in 2025 with a dominant four-set victory over Jannik Sinner.

Aryna Sabalenka returns as the two-time defending women's singles champion. In the mixed doubles, the Italian duo Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are the team to beat after securing consecutive titles in New York.

US Open – Men’s Singles Winners (2000–2025)

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Result
2000	Marat Safin (RUS)	Pete Sampras (USA)	6–4, 6–3, 6–3
2001	Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)	Pete Sampras (USA)	7–6(4), 6–1, 6–1
2002	Pete Sampras (USA)	Andre Agassi (USA)	6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
2003	Andy Roddick (USA)	Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)	6–3, 7–6(2), 6–3
2004	Roger Federer (SUI)	Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)	6–0, 7–6(3), 6–0
2005	Roger Federer (SUI)	Andre Agassi (USA)	6–3, 2–6, 7–6(1), 6–1
2006	Roger Federer (SUI)	Andy Roddick (USA)	6–2, 4–6, 7–5, 6–1
2007	Roger Federer (SUI)	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	7–6(4), 7–6(2), 6–4
2008	Roger Federer (SUI)	Andy Murray (GBR)	6–2, 7–5, 6–2
2009	Juan Martín del Potro (ARG)	Roger Federer (SUI)	3–6, 7–6(5), 4–6, 7–6(4), 6–2
2010	Rafael Nadal (ESP)	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2
2011	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	Rafael Nadal (ESP)	6–2, 6–4, 6–7(3), 6–1
2012	Andy Murray (GBR)	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	7–6(10), 7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–2
2013	Rafael Nadal (ESP)	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1
2014	Marin Čilić (CRO)	Kei Nishikori (JPN)	6–3, 6–3, 6–3
2015	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	Roger Federer (SUI)	6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
2016	Stan Wawrinka (SUI)	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	6–7(1), 6–4, 7–5, 6–3
2017	Rafael Nadal (ESP)	Kevin Anderson (RSA)	6–3, 6–3, 6–4
2018	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	Juan Martín del Potro (ARG)	6–3, 7–6(4), 6–3
2019	Rafael Nadal (ESP)	Daniil Medvedev (RUS)	7–5, 6–3, 5–7, 4–6, 6–4
2020	Dominic Thiem (AUT)	Alexander Zverev (GER)	2–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6(6)
2021	Daniil Medvedev (RUS)	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	6–4, 6–4, 6–4
2022	Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)	Casper Ruud (NOR)	6–4, 2–6, 7–6(1), 6–3
2023	Novak Djokovic (SRB)	Daniil Medvedev (RUS)	6–3, 7–6(5), 6–3
2024	Jannik Sinner (ITA)	Taylor Fritz (USA)	6–3, 6–4, 7–5
2025	Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)	Jannik Sinner (ITA)	6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–4

US Open – Women’s Singles Winners (2000–2025)

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Finals Result
2000	Venus Williams (USA)	Lindsay Davenport (USA)	6–4, 7–5
2001	Venus Williams (USA)	Serena Williams (USA)	6–2, 6–4
2002	Serena Williams (USA)	Venus Williams (USA)	6–4, 6–3
2003	Justine Henin (BEL)	Kim Clijsters (BEL)	7–5, 6–1
2004	Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)	Elena Dementieva (RUS)	6–3, 7–5
2005	Kim Clijsters (BEL)	Mary Pierce (FRA)	6–3, 6–1
2006	Maria Sharapova (RUS)	Justine Henin (BEL)	6–4, 6–4
2007	Justine Henin (BEL)	Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)	6–1, 6–3
2008	Serena Williams (USA)	Jelena Janković (SRB)	6–4, 7–5
2009	Kim Clijsters (BEL)	Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)	7–5, 6–3
2010	Kim Clijsters (BEL)	Vera Zvonareva (RUS)	6–2, 6–1
2011	Samantha Stosur (AUS)	Serena Williams (USA)	6–2, 6–3
2012	Serena Williams (USA)	Victoria Azarenka (BLR)	6–2, 2–6, 7–5
2013	Serena Williams (USA)	Victoria Azarenka (BLR)	7–5, 6–7(6), 6–1
2014	Serena Williams (USA)	Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)	6–3, 6–3
2015	Flavia Pennetta (ITA)	Roberta Vinci (ITA)	7–6(4), 6–2
2016	Angelique Kerber (GER)	Karolína Plíšková (CZE)	6–3, 4–6, 6–4
2017	Sloane Stephens (USA)	Madison Keys (USA)	6–3, 6–0
2018	Naomi Osaka (JPN)	Serena Williams (USA)	6–2, 6–4
2019	Bianca Andreescu (CAN)	Serena Williams (USA)	6–3, 7–5
2020	Naomi Osaka (JPN)	Victoria Azarenka (BLR)	1–6, 6–3, 6–3
2021	Emma Raducanu (GBR)	Leylah Fernandez (CAN)	6–4, 6–3
2022	Iga Świątek (POL)	Ons Jabeur (TUN)	6–2, 7–6(5)
2023	Coco Gauff (USA)	Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)	2–6, 6–3, 6–2
2024	Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)	Jessica Pegula (USA)	7–5, 7–5
2025	Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)	Amanda Anisimova (USA)	6–3, 7–6(3)

7. How to get tickets for the US Open 2026

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster as the official ticketing partner of the US Open. Standard ground passes range from $60-$150, has access to outer courts and practice areas. Reserved stadium seating in the Louis Armstrong and Grandstand range from $120-$300, and finally, the Arthur Ashe Stadium have early round seats available for $70, but as the tournament goes on, tickets for big matches and finals can be $300 and up.

Arthur Ashe Stadium

8. How to watch the US Open live: TV and Streaming Info

In the United Kingdom, coverage will be shown on Sky Sports, covering games in all 3 stadiums.
In the United States, coverage will be on ESPN and ESPN+, with subscriptions costing around $11.99 a month.
TSN holds the rights in Canada.
For those in Australia, the tournament can be followed on Stand Sport and in New Zealand, it will be streamed via TVNZ+.

14 teams are IN!

Eight teams have received direct entry and six teams have received wild cards to the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. The final two wild cards will be announced at a later date. pic.twitter.com/mkAteJDQVT
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 29, 2025

9. What makes the US Open (Flushing Meadows) Unique?

Many elements set the US Open apart from the rest:

Having the largest stadium in Tennis, it offers a unique atmosphere that is loud, energetic and constant support for players.
Diversity and Inclusion, which is provided by events such as Open Pride Day and a strong wheelchair tournament.
Its electronic line calls and 15-day schedule show how the Open leads the way in modernisation.

10. Why could the US Open 2026 be special?

Several factors point to the 2026 edition being particularly memorable:

The 146th Edition: As one of the oldest sports championships in the world, the 2026 tournament continues a storied legacy that dates back to 1881, offering a unique blend of modern spectacle and historic tradition.
Alcaraz and Sabalenka Defending Titles: Both Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to cement their hard-court dominance. Sabalenka, in particular, will be chasing a historic "three-peat" after her back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025.
The "Reimagined" Arthur Ashe Stadium: 2026 marks the first year fans will experience the initial phase of the massive $800 million venue transformation. This includes a restructured courtside bowl with 2,000 additional seats and modernized concourses designed by world-renowned architects.
Sunday Start Maturation: Entering its second year, the 15-day main draw format (starting on Sunday, August 30) is expected to shatter attendance records once again, following the million-fan milestone reached in previous seasons.
Elite Player Milestones: With Jannik Sinner hungry to reclaim his throne and Iga Swiatek looking to return to the top of the podium in New York, the battle for the World No. 1 ranking could reach its peak under the lights of Flushing Meadows.