
The Australian Open kicks off the tennis calendar every year. As the first of four annual Grand Slams โ tennisโs major competitions โ it showcases the top menโs and womenโs tennis talent in the world. The 2026 edition will be served up in January in Melbourne, Australia, where it has been played since its inception in 1905, and top live TV streaming services will help you catch it all.
The competition features menโs and womenโs showdowns for singles, doubles, mixed doubles, junior, wheelchair, and legendโs titles.
Those who revel in watching the top stars in tennis kick off the annual slate of major tournaments wonโt want to miss the action. If you want to catch every moment of this yearโs competition, there are a few ways to do it. Read on to learn how to watch the Australian Open in 2026.
Where to watch the Australian Open
As it has in recent years, the 2026 Australian Open will air across ESPNโs family of networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ABC. Many matches will stream live on ESPN Plus. If youโre a cord-cutter looking for ways to watch the championship, youโll have plenty of options across Sling TV, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV, but youโll need to add ESPN Plus to ensure you can watch every match.
Watch on Fubo
If you want to pair Australian Open coverage with as much additional sports action as possible, Fubo is probably your best bet. Its Pro plan features more than 30 live sports channels, including many of the top national and regional sports networks (RSNs).
That plan costs $84.99 a month, but the subscription is also subject to a market-specific monthly regional sports fee. Youโll get ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC for many Australian Open matches, but Fubo doesnโt offer ESPN3. All Fubo plans include unlimited Cloud DVR storage, which is great for recording many of the matches that air overnight in the U.S. Fubo also offers an array of add-ons to expand your sports and entertainment coverage.
Watch on DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is another great option for all-around sports fans, especially since it features a full slate of international, national, and regional sports coverage. Itโs more expensive than Fubo, but some cord-cutters may prefer some of the channels it offers, like TBS, TNT, and BBC.
DIRECTV STREAMโs basic Entertainment plan costs $79.99 a month and includes the main channels youโll need to watch the Australian Open โ ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, but not ESPN3. If you want to get more sports, including RSNs, youโll need to upgrade to the Choice plan, which costs $108.99 a month. All plans come with unlimited cloud DVR storage and have no cap on simultaneous streams at home.
Watch on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is our top choice for tennis fans who want a well-rounded entertainment package to go with their coverage of the Australian Open. Starting at $76.99 a month, Hulu + Live TV features 90-plus live TV channels, including ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. The best part for Australian Open fans, however, is that this platform also includes full access to ESPN Plus and Disney Plus. That means you can watch every match except those on ESPN3, plus loads of extra on-demand entertainment on Hulu and Disney+.
Hulu + Live TV features around a dozen sports networks in total, along with all your top local channels. Plus, it includes unlimited cloud DVR storage so you can record your favorite programs. You can keep up with Australian Open matches that you miss, plus other shows that you want to binge later. For an all-around streaming package, itโs tough to find a better option.
Watch on Sling TV
For fans looking to stream the Australian Open on a budget, thereโs no better option than Sling TV. This platform offers a pared-down channel lineup featuring some of the most popular channels, plus 50 hours of cloud DVR and plenty of add-ons to customize your plan.
If the Australian Open is your main concern, you can watch many of the matches with Sling Orange for only $45.99 per month. This plan doesnโt include ABC or other major sports networks, but youโll still find a fair amount of action โ tennis and otherwise โ on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TBS, and TNT. If you want more live sports, you can upgrade to Sling Orange & Blue to add Fox Sports 1 (FS1), NFL Network, TruTV, and (in some markets) ABC, Fox, and NBC. Sling also offers a Sports Extra add-on with loads of extra coverage.
Watch on YouTube TV
Last but not least, among the live TV streaming platforms is YouTube TV. This platform offers a more straightforward base plan with more than 110 of the most popular sports, news, and entertainment channels. It doesnโt include RSNs, but YouTube TV has ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, so you can keep up with much of the action at the Australian Open.
For $82.99 a month, the base plan also includes channels like TNT, TBS, NBA TV, NFL Network, FS1, and much more. YouTube TV also features unlimited cloud DVR storage, so you never have to miss any of the matches that stream on the platform. For sports fans who want even more, YouTube TV offers an impressive array of add-ons for more channels or full league access through services like NFL Sunday Ticket.
Watch on ESPN Plus
If you want to be sure you wonโt miss any action, youโll need to add ESPN Plus to your streaming portfolio. Many of the matches stream exclusively on this over-the-top streamer, which starts at $10.99 a month. You can subscribe to this service on its own or get it included with Hulu + Live TV.
FAQ
The Australian Open takes place in mid-January in Melbourne, Australia. Qualifying rounds begin in early January.
Top participants in this yearโs competition include past winners such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Angelique Kerber. Other names to watch include Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula.
Australian Open matches will rotate between ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ABC, and ESPN Plus. ABC matches are available on network TV, while ESPN Plus matches require a subscription to the over-the-top streaming service. Other matches will air on cable, satellite, or live TV streaming services.
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