How To Watch the Australian Open: Don’t Miss the Grand Slam Tennis Tournament

Tennis fans around the world will tune in to watch the Australian Open in January 2026, but how you stream the tournament depends on where you live. Broadcast and streaming rights vary by country, meaning viewers in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia need access to different channels and platforms to follow the matches.

In the United States, ESPN holds the Australian Open rights, so fans need a TV or streaming service that carries ESPN. In the U.K., coverage is available through Eurosport, while Canadian viewers can watch Grand Slam tennis on TSN or RDS, depending on their language preference. In Australia, the tournament is available for free on Channel 9 and its streaming service, 9Now, which offers live and on-demand coverage with a free account.

Whether you’re following Naomi Osaka’s return to top form or hoping Aryna Sabalenka adds another major title to her résumé, here’s how to watch the Australian Open so you don’t miss a single point.

How to watch the Australian Open from anywhere

If you want to watch the Australian Open for free, you can do so by accessing Australia’s 9Now streaming service. While 9Now is normally only available within Australia, a reputable VPN can allow you to stream the free coverage from abroad by assigning you an Australian IP address.

A VPN works by masking your real location and making it appear as though you’re browsing from another country. By connecting to an Australian server, you can unlock 9Now’s free live and on-demand Australian Open streams on any compatible device running the VPN app. Once connected, simply visit 9Now, sign in with a free account, and start watching — no paid TV subscription required.

VPNs allow you to access geo-restricted libraries, but they also keep your information private on shared Wi-Fi connections, help you get better video quality with streaming-optimized servers, and can improve internet speeds if your internet service provider (ISP) is throttling your connection. Overall, VPNs are useful and practical tools for our modern, internet-connected world.

How to watch the Australian Open in the U.S.

Platform	Price	Channels
Hulu + Live TV	$89.99/mo	ESPN
YouTube TV	$72.99/mo for first three months, $82.99/mo after	ESPN
Sling TV	$45.99/mo	ESPN

How to watch on Hulu + Live TV

ESPN has exclusive rights to the Australian Open, so one option for U.S. fans is to stream through Hulu + Live TV. Once you sign up, you can navigate to the ESPN channel and watch.

How to watch on YouTube TV

YouTube TV is another way to watch ESPN if you don’t have cable. The channel’s exclusive rights mean you’ll have to stream through one of its affiliates to see all the matches, and YouTube TV is a great place to do that.

How to watch on Sling TV

Sling TV also has access to ESPN. You’ll need the Orange plan or the Orange + Blue plan to nab ESPN’s channels on the platform. Whether you go through Hulu + Live, YouTube TV, Sling, or cable, if you get ESPN now, you can also watch the U.S. Open later in the year.

How to watch the Australian Open in the U.K.

Platform	Price	Channels
Eurosport	Included with TNT Sport, Sky Sports, Virgin Media Stream, and Discovery+	Eurosport
Discovery+	£3.99	Eurosport

How to watch the Australian Open in Canada

Platform	Price	Channels
TSN	$19.99	Streaming
RDS	$19.99	Streaming

How to watch the Australian Open from anywhere

If you’d like to watch the Australian Open for free, there’s a good chance a quality virtual private network (VPN) can help you access Australia’s 9Now network, where the matches will be streaming. VPNs are an efficient way to bypass geo-restrictions.

If you’re trying to access content libraries from Australia’s 9Now network, or use a streaming service in another country to watch the Australian Open, a VPN helps mask your real location. To get an Australian IP address, change your VPN’s server to one from Australia. Once active, you can access Australian content from any device running the VPN software.

VPNs allow you to access geo-restricted libraries, but they also keep your information private on shared Wi-Fi connections, help you get better video quality with streaming-optimized servers, and can improve internet speeds if your internet service provider (ISP) is throttling your connection. Overall, VPNs are useful and practical tools for our modern, internet-connected world.

The Australian Open schedule

Day	Date	Matches (singles)
Qualifying	January 12–15	Qualifying rounds (not part of main draw)
1	January 18	First round begins
2	January 19	First round
3	January 20	First round concludes
4	January 21	Second round
5	January 22	Second round
6	January 23	Third round
7	January 24	Third round
8	January 25	Fourth round
9	January 26	Fourth round
10	January 27	Quarterfinals begin
11	January 28	Quarterfinals
12	January 29	Semifinals begin
13	January 30	Semifinals complete
14	January 31	Women's finals
15	February 1	Men's finals

Australian Open tennis tournament hopefuls

For the third consecutive year, the Australian Open will begin on a Sunday, continuing the tournament’s expanded schedule. On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic enters the 2026 Australian Open aiming to further extend his record at Melbourne Park, where he has historically been at his most dominant. While competition at the top of the men’s game remains fierce, Djokovic is once again expected to be among the leading contenders.

In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka arrives as one of the favorites after establishing herself as a consistent force at the Australian Open in recent years. Already a multiple-time champion in Melbourne, Sabalenka has the opportunity to continue climbing the all-time leaderboard and further cement her legacy on hard courts.

With major titles, records, and ranking points on the line, the 2026 Australian Open promises must-watch tennis, whether you’re following the sport closely or tuning in for the season’s first Grand Slam.

FAQs

Bottom line

This year’s Australian Open should be an exciting event to watch. U.S. residents have streaming options like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Sling, which all carry ESPN, where the Grand Slam tennis match is broadcast.

If you want to watch for free, snagging one of the best VPNs will allow you to tune into Australia’s 9Now network to view from anywhere.

A VPN can also help you access sports betting sites, keep your information private on shared Wi-Fi, and optimize your streaming experience. Whether you’re a long-time tennis fan or just getting started, the Australian Open is guaranteed to be a “Happy Slam” you don’t want to miss.