See who makes the cut at 2026 Australian Open qualifying
See who makes the cut at 2026 Australian Open qualifying
The first Grand Slam tournament of 2026 is just around the corner. See if your favorite players will qualify live!
The 2026 Grand Slam tennis tournament schedule is about to kick off with the Australian Open — but not before we figure out which players will actually be a part of the action! Fans can see that for themselves when the 2026 Australian Open qualifying begins on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+, which now resides in the Select plan of the ESPN direct-to-consumer service. Viewers will be able to watch qualifying each day and use features like multiview to see all of their favorite players in action. The only way to stream the 2026 Australian Open qualifying is on ESPN+ with a subscription to ESPN Select.
How to watch 2026 Australian Open qualifying
- When: Starts Sunday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN+
- Stream: Watch with a subscription to ESPN+ via ESPN Select.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about 2026 Australian Open qualifying
What is the broadcast schedule of 2026 Australian Open qualifying?
Qualifying for the 2026 Australian Open will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 11 and continue through the conclusion of play. Coverage starts again at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12 and Tuesday, Jan. 13, and once more at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
In addition, ESPN+ will offer charity matches during the qualifying week, which will go to benefit the Australian Tennis Foundation’s efforts to reach children in need. See a schedule of those charity matches below; all will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.
Australian Open qualifying broadcast schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Jan. 11 | 6 p.m. | Various qualifying matches |
| Monday, Jan. 12 | 6 p.m. | Various qualifying matches |
| Tuesday, Jan. 13 | 6 p.m. | Various qualifying matches |
| Wednesday, Jan. 14 | 7 p.m. | Various qualifying matches |
Australian Open charity match and event schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Match/Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Jan. 13 | 1 a.m. | Elena Rybakina vs Qinwen Zheng |
| 3 a.m. | Alexander Zverev vs Lorenzo Musetti | |
| Wednesday, Jan. 14 | 1 a.m. | Elina Svitolina vs Amanda Anisimova |
| 3:30 a.m. | 1 Point Slam | |
| Thursday, Jan. 15 | 1 a.m. | TBD |
| 3 a.m. | Carlos Alcaraz vs Alex de Minaur | |
| Friday, Jan. 16 | 1 a.m. | Jannik Sinner vs Felix Auger-Aliassime |
| 4 a.m. | Red Bull Bassline | |
| 8 p.m. | Mixed Doubles | |
| Saturday, Jan. 17 | 3 a.m. | Opening Ceremony with Roger Federer |
Why do we recommend watching 2026 Australian Open qualifying on ESPN+?
ESPN+ will be the exclusive home of 2026 Australian Open qualifying; the matches won’t be available on ESPN linear platforms on any provider. That means if you want to watch, you’ll have to have a subscription to the service through the ESPN Select plan, which costs $13 per month.
With this subscription, however, fans will be able to use features like Play from Start, which allows them to restart any match they join in the middle from the beginning. Catch Up to Live will help audiences to watch quick highlights of a match in progress, and multiview allows for the viewing of up to four matches on the same screen.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.
Can you watch 2026 Australian Open qualifying for free?
The 2026 Australian Open qualifying rounds will only be available to stream on ESPN+, which is now part of ESPN Select. That service does not offer a free trial of any kind to new or returning subscribers; fans can sign up for $13 per month or $130 per year to get a subscription.
How to watch 2026 Australian Open qualifying from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the 2026 Australian Open qualifiers as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action no matter where you are in the world with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to ESPN+ in order to stream the show with a VPN.
NordVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get two full years of protection for just $3.59 per month — plus you’ll get three extra months FREE. A high-speed VPN with best-in-class security that can be used on up to 10 devices at once — what more could you ask for? Simply sign up, install the software on your device of choice, and start streaming just as you would back home. It couldn’t be easier!
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