Wimbledon 2026 – Wimbledon returns for a fortnight starting Monday, June 29 and running through Sunday, July 12, with the men’s singles final on July 12 and the women’s singles final on July 11. Jannik Sinner is set to defend his title with Carlos Alcaraz absent due to a wrist
For the second week of July, the lawns and courts will be filled again with the kind of tennis pressure that seems to move the air itself. Wimbledon 2026 runs from Monday, June 29 to Sunday, July 12, with spectators admitted from 10am each day and play typically beginning on outside courts at 11am.
This year’s men’s draw carries an extra charge before the first ball is even struck. Jannik Sinner is pushing for a second Wimbledon title. and his path may be eased by the absence of sporting foe Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz has announced he will not take part this year due to a wrist injury. Still. Novak Djokovic stands ready to provide the kind of resistance that turns Wimbledon into a test of nerves as much as technique; he is aiming for a record-matching eighth title.
On the women’s side, the betting favorite is Aryna Sabalenka, with bookies placing her at the top after her success in the US Open in 2025. Iga Świątek also has a strong case for defending her title, and Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff are among the other names favored to go deep.
The stakes aren’t only on court. For many fans, the day Wimbledon begins is also the start of a different kind of competition—how to get in at all.
Wimbledon’s grounds open to spectators at 10am each day, and start times for each court will be confirmed closer to the event. Outside courts generally start at 11am, with 1.30pm start times listed for both No. 1 Court and Centre Court.
For last-minute tickets. members of the public can still join “The Queue. ” a long-running Wimbledon tradition where fans wait in large numbers outside Wimbledon Park in hopes of securing court or ground tickets. The queue operates on a first-come-first-serve basis. with many supporters lining up overnight. carrying food and flasks filled with hot drinks. Wimbledon bosses have also introduced an app to add another part to the process.
When you arrive to join The Queue, you’re issued with a Queue Card and then digitally “checked in” by a steward. Before the grounds open in the morning, tickets start being sold to those at the front of The Queue.
There was already a public ballot for tickets earlier this year, but the queue remains the route that keeps people moving toward the gates even when options narrow.
For viewers at home in the UK, the BBC has exclusive rights to broadcast Wimbledon. Coverage of key matches is on either BBC One or BBC Two. The BBC also offers a red button service and BBC iPlayer so viewers can follow the action beyond the main broadcast.
The broadcaster has not yet confirmed its presenter line-up for 2026. but last year’s coverage featured Claire Balding and former England cricketer Isa Guha. with analysis from Tim Henman and Andrew Castle. Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard. 32. has confirmed she will be “doing some work” for the BBC among other broadcasters at the tournament.
The tournament’s schedule is set to be finalized day by day, but the provisional order of play is already mapped out. Wimbledon’s full schedule for each of the 14 days is provisional, and the order for each day is usually confirmed at 6pm the previous evening.
Monday, June 29 brings men’s singles first round and women’s singles first round. Wednesday. July 1 moves into men’s singles second round and women’s singles second round. alongside men’s doubles first round. men’s singles second round. women’s doubles first round. and women’s doubles first round. Friday. July 3 continues with men’s singles third round and women’s singles third round. plus men’s doubles second round. women’s doubles first round. and mixed doubles first round.
Saturday. July 4 lists men’s singles third round and women’s singles third round. with men’s doubles second round. women’s doubles second round. and mixed doubles first round. Sunday. July 5 follows with men’s singles fourth round and women’s singles fourth round. plus men’s doubles third round. women’s doubles second round. and mixed doubles second round.
Monday. July 6 brings more late-stage momentum: men’s singles fourth round and women’s singles fourth round again are listed. along with men’s doubles third round. women’s doubles third round. and mixed doubles quarter finals. Tuesday. July 7 shifts clearly toward the endgame with men’s singles quarter finals and women’s singles quarter finals. plus men’s doubles quarter finals. women’s doubles third round. and mixed doubles semi finals.
Wednesday. July 8 shows the quarter-final cluster continuing for singles while doubles and mixed progress as well: men’s singles quarter finals. women’s singles quarter finals. men’s doubles quarter finals. women’s doubles quarter finals. and then Thursday. July 9 brings women’s singles semi finals. men’s doubles semi finals. women’s doubles quarter finals. and mixed doubles final.
Friday, July 10 sets up the weekend with men’s singles semi final and women’s doubles semi final. Saturday. July 11 is women’s final day for the main singles event. with the women’s singles final and the men’s doubles final. Then Sunday, July 12 finishes the two-week run with the men’s singles final and the women’s doubles final.
Once the tournament settles into its rhythm, the real tension is easy to feel in every detail: Sinner trying to repeat, Djokovic chasing history, Alcaraz’s absence from a wrist injury changing the men’s landscape, and Sabalenka’s US Open form shaping the women’s race.
For fans trying to plan the trip, there’s also a practical step buried at the end of the official materials—enter your postcode or visit the Public Notice Portal HERE to find planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications, and more in your area.
Wimbledon 2026 Jannik Sinner Novak Djokovic Carlos Alcaraz wrist injury Iga Świątek Aryna Sabalenka Coco Gauff Elena Rybakina Eugenie Bouchard Wimbledon tickets queue