The US Open 2026 main draw begins on Sunday, August 30, and this year’s tournament has the deepest field in a decade. Here is exactly how to watch every match, what the full schedule looks like, and which players to build your viewing around.
Coverage is split across broadcast and streaming, and the two do not overlap neatly. This guide sorts out where each session actually airs.
US Open 2026 Key Dates
The tournament opened early. Mixed doubles and singles qualifying got underway on August 24, ahead of the main draw.
- August 24: Mixed doubles championship and singles qualifying
- August 30: Main draw first round begins
- September 5 to 6: Round of 16
- September 8 to 10: Quarterfinals and semifinals
- September 12: Women’s singles final
- September 13: Men’s singles final
That two-week run makes US Open 2026 the last Grand Slam of the season and the final major title on offer this year.
How to Watch US Open 2026 on TV
ESPN holds US rights and is covering the entire tournament. Daily coverage spans all 16 courts.
| Platform | What It Carries |
|---|---|
| ESPN | Primary daily coverage, all rounds |
| ESPN2 | Overflow courts and early rounds |
| ESPN Deportes | Full Spanish-language coverage |
| ABC | All three Sundays, including the men’s final |
| ESPN App | Every court, live streaming |
| Disney+ | Select Day 1 action |
The ABC windows matter if you do not have cable. All three Sundays air free over the air, including first-round coverage, the Round of 16, and the men’s championship.
Streaming US Open 2026
Every court streams through the ESPN App, but access requires an ESPN Unlimited plan subscription. That is the only way to follow outer-court matches in full.
Disney+ subscribers get select Day 1 action inside the app at no extra cost, which is a new addition for US Open 2026.
If you only want the marquee matches, an antenna plus ABC covers the three biggest Sundays for free.
Players to Watch at US Open 2026
The draw is unusually strong on both sides.
Women’s field: Aryna Sabalenka arrives as the player to beat, with Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all in contention. Gauff carries home-crowd expectation in New York.
Men’s field: Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic headline, with Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz leading the American charge.
The doubles storyline is the one drawing casual viewers. Serena and Venus Williams have entered as a wild card pairing, and their matches are likely to be scheduled in prime windows. Full draw details are available at the official US Open site.
Session Structure
Day sessions typically start at 11 a.m. ET, with night sessions beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Night sessions are where the marquee matches land. If you can only watch one session a day, that is the one.
The Cheapest Way to Follow US Open 2026
Your options depend on how much tennis you actually want.
- Free: an over-the-air antenna gets you ABC’s three Sundays in HD at zero cost.
- Light viewing: a Disney+ subscription covers select action and doubles as a general streaming service.
- Full coverage: ESPN Unlimited unlocks every court through the ESPN App.
- Cable replacement: a live TV bundle carries ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC together, but runs $80 or more per month.
For a two-week tournament, month-to-month streaming makes far more sense than an annual commitment. Subscribe on August 29, cancel on September 14.
Practical Viewing Tips
- Set alerts for night sessions rather than trying to track the daily order of play
- Rain delays shift schedules significantly, so check start times the morning of
- Use a wired connection for live sports where possible
- Outer-court matches early in week one often produce the best tennis of the tournament
- Coverage of ESPN’s tennis hub carries live scores if you cannot watch
What Makes US Open 2026 Different
Two changes stand out this year. The mixed doubles championship moved ahead of the main draw, giving it a standalone spotlight rather than burying it mid-tournament.
And streaming access has widened. Disney+ carrying live tennis, even in a limited window, signals where Grand Slam distribution is heading.
For fans, that fragmentation is a mixed blessing. More ways to watch also means more subscriptions to track.
The Bottom Line
US Open 2026 runs from August 30 to September 13, with ESPN carrying the bulk of coverage and ABC handling the three Sundays including the men’s final.
Casual fans can follow the tournament entirely free with an antenna. Anyone wanting outer-court access needs the ESPN App, and the smart move is a one-month subscription rather than a year-long commitment.
Either way, the last Grand Slam of the season is worth clearing the calendar for.
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