The US Open is traditionally held from the last week of August through the second week of September. The 2026 tournament is expected to follow the same pattern, with the main draw beginning in the final days of August and the men's and women's singles finals taking place on the second weekend of September, roughly around September 12–13.
A few scheduling notes that apply in recent years and are worth keeping in mind:
- Qualifying matches are played the week before the main draw begins, during what the tournament calls Fan Week.
- Since 2025, the first round has been spread over two days, so the opening rounds now stretch across a Sunday and Monday.
- Play runs daily in both day and night sessions, with night matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium among the most famous atmospheres in the sport.
The USTA confirms exact session dates, start times, and the order of play on the official US Open website, so treat any date you see as provisional until it appears there. Schedules can shift slightly year to year, and individual match times are only finalized a day or two in advance.
Where the Tournament Is Played
The US Open has been staged at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, since 1978. The venue sits next to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, and is easily reached from anywhere in New York City.
The centerpiece is Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis-specific stadium in the world, holding more than 23,000 spectators. It has had a retractable roof since 2016, which means marquee matches proceed even in rain. Louis Armstrong Stadium, rebuilt in 2018 with a naturally ventilated design, is the second-largest court, and the GreenSet-built Grandstand is a fan favorite for its intimate sightlines and packed undercard of big names.
All matches are played on outdoor hard courts. The fast-but-fair surface has historically rewarded aggressive baseliners with strong serves, though the New York humidity and evening conditions often slow the courts down as the fortnight progresses.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets for the US Open typically go on sale in the months leading up to the tournament, usually in spring. In recent years, cardholders of the tournament's banking partners have had access to presale windows before the general public sale. The official ticketing is handled through Ticketmaster, and the US Open site links directly to authorized sales.
Ticket options generally fall into a few categories:
- Arthur Ashe Stadium tickets, which include a reserved seat in the main stadium plus access to the outer grounds.
- Louis Armstrong Stadium tickets, which work the same way for the second stadium.
- Grounds passes, which cover all courts outside Ashe and Armstrong and often deliver excellent value, since top players appear on the Grandstand and outer courts early in the tournament.
- Full-series and multi-session plans for fans who want to attend several days.
- Luxury and hospitality packages, including suites and restaurant seating.
A few practical tips for buyers:
- Demand peaks on the middle weekend and during the finals. Early-weekday sessions are the easiest and most affordable way to see stars up close.
- Fan Week, which includes the qualifying tournament, has offered free admission to the grounds in recent years and features practice sessions, player appearances, and events. It is one of the best deals in New York sports.
- Use official or verified resale channels. Third-party sellers outside those systems carry a real risk of invalid tickets.
- Check the weather-refund policy when buying. Because only Ashe and Armstrong have roof protection, sessions on outer courts can be affected by rain.
Players and Storylines to Watch
The 2026 tournament arrives with plenty of competitive intrigue. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have turned the men's tour into a two-man rivalry in recent seasons, trading major titles and producing a succession of high-stakes finals, including the 2025 US Open title match. Alcaraz will arrive as the reigning champion, while Sinner will be looking to reclaim the title he won in 2024.
On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka enters 2026 as a two-time defending champion, having won the title in both 2024 and 2025. She will face a deep chase pack that includes Coco Gauff, the 2023 champion, Iga Swiatek, a multiple Grand Slam winner, and a strong group of younger players rising through the ranks.
Novak Djokovic's pursuit of a 25th major title remains one of the sport's central storylines. A 25th Grand Slam singles trophy would break the all-time record he currently shares with Margaret Court, and Flushing Meadows, where he has won four titles, is always one of his likeliest stages.
Beyond the headliners, the US Open is reliably the Grand Slam most open to surprises. The raucous night sessions, the fast conditions, and the sheer depth of the men's and women's fields have produced first-time major champions in New York several times over the past decade, from Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev to Emma Raducanu and Gauff.
How to Watch on TV and Streaming
In the United States, ESPN holds the broadcast rights to the US Open, with coverage across ESPN's cable channels and streaming platforms. The women's and men's singles finals have also aired on ABC in recent years, giving the championship matches broader over-the-air reach.
International coverage varies by country. Major broadcasters hold rights in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and the tournament's own streaming service offers live coverage of every court for subscribers in many markets. Checking the official US Open site's broadcast listing for your region is the fastest way to confirm where to watch.
One viewing tip: because the tournament runs so many matches simultaneously in the first week, the multi-court streaming feeds are the best way to follow specific players, not just the stadium broadcasts.
Planning a Visit to Flushing Meadows
Attending the US Open in person is one of the more accessible major-sport experiences in New York, largely because of transportation. The 7 subway train stops at Mets–Willets Point, a short walk from the grounds, and the Long Island Rail Road also serves the same station. For travelers flying in, LaGuardia Airport is the closest major airport, with JFK not much farther.
A few things worth knowing before you go:
- Security screening is in place at all gates, and the bag policy is strict. Review the official prohibited-items list before packing a bag or a camera case.
- Late August in New York is hot and humid. Sunscreen, a hat, and water are worth bringing; refill stations are available on the grounds.
- Food options range from classic stadium fare to vendors from well-known New York restaurants, and prices are in line with major-event expectations.
- Practice courts are open to ticket holders, and watching players train up close early in the tournament is one of the underrated pleasures of the event.
- Hotel demand spikes during the tournament, particularly over Labor Day weekend. Booking early, or considering accommodations in Queens or Long Island City rather than Manhattan, can make the trip noticeably cheaper.
Prize Money and Format
The US Open regularly posts the largest prize pool in tennis. The 2025 edition offered a record level of total player compensation, and the 2026 figures are expected to be announced closer to the tournament, with further increases likely. Singles champions earn 2,000 ranking points, and the event runs full draws of 128 players in men's and women's singles, plus doubles, mixed doubles, junior, and wheelchair events, making it one of the most complete tennis showcases of the year.
Scoring follows the standard Grand Slam format: men's singles matches are best of five sets, women's singles best of three, and a 10-point tiebreak decides any set leveled at 6–6 in the final set.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 US Open will bring the season's final major back to New York in the familiar late-August-to-mid-September window, with Alcaraz and Sabalenka defending singles titles and a deep field chasing them. If you plan to attend, watch for ticket sales in the spring and lean toward official channels; if you are watching from home, ESPN carries the coverage in the United States. For confirmed dates, session times, and the order of play, the official US Open website is the single most reliable source as the tournament approaches.