The Tennis Australia (TA) governing body has announced a record prize purse for the 2026 edition of its flagship Australian Open Grand Slam, with a total AUD$111.5 million ($74.88 million) to be distributed to players during the tournament.
The prize fund is a 16% increase on the AUD$96.5 million handed out in 2025, with the men’s and women’s singles champions to receive AUD$4.15 million each this year – a 19% increase on last year’s offering of AUD$3.5 million.
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Runners-up will earn AUD$2.15 million, while semi-finalists will receive AUD$1.25 million, 13% and 14% increases from last year, respectively.
Those who exit at the earliest stage of the tournament (qualifying) will still receive AUD$40,500 – 16% more than in 2025.
Qualifying for the tournament gets underway on January 12, while the main draw begins on January 18.
The prize money increase is part of TA’s AUD$135 million overall investment across its ‘Summer of Tennis,’ which includes the ongoing United Cup teams tournament and Australian Open warm-up events in Brisbane and Adelaide, following increased revenue in 2025.
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By GlobalDataAccording to documents lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, TA reported income of AUD$693 million for the year to September, an increase of AUD$102 million from the previous period.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has said: “This 16% increase demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level.
“From boosting qualifying prize money by 55% since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we’re ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors.
“This investment strengthens tennis’s foundation, ensuring the sport’s long-term health and commercial growth. By supporting players at all levels, we’re building deeper talent pools and more compelling storylines for fans.”
The increase pushes the Australian Open up into second place in terms of prize money offered by the four Grand Slams, taking over from the Wimbledon Championships, which offered $72.5 million for the 2025 edition.
However, it still sits behind the lucrative US Open, which announced the largest purse in tennis history last year, with a total of $90 million distributed to players for the 2025 edition.
The French Open, meanwhile, also offered a record prize purse last year, worth about $63.7 million, a 5.21% increase from the prior editiono, while the singles champions prize at that event increased to $2.9 million.
Ahead of the 2026 edition, TA has been building its commercial portfolio, most recently securing digital asset platform Nexo as the first cryptocurrency partner of the Australian Open Grand Slam and warm-up tournaments last month.
December also saw TA add yoghurt brand YoPro to its list of partners, while in October, the organization secured international healthcare group Bupa as the tournament’s official healthcare partner and digital health partner and Pernod Ricard-owned spirits brand Altos as the official tequila.
Other prominent sponsors include Dubai-based airline Emirates, tyre manufacturer Pirelli, car brand Kia, luxury watchmaker Rolex, and M&M’S Australia, the Australian subsidiary of the chocolate brand owned by snack manufacturer Mars Wrigley.
