Everything to know about Wimbledon 2026

The world's greatest tennis tournament may be known for elite athletes, celebrity spectators and strawberries and cream, but for many, Wimbledon is also about queues, tents and takeaways.

It's one of the few sporting events that holds premium tickets to be sold on the day of play, and a little knowledge and patience can land you courtside seats for some of the tournament's biggest matches. From the order of play to getting your hands on those tickets, here's what you need to know about hitting Wimbledon this summer.

When is Wimbledon?

The two-week event, hosted by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, begins this year on Monday, June 29 and runs to Sunday, July 12. It's watched by millions around the world, and by up to 39,000 spectators each day. Become one of the latter by joining the Queue – so important it gets its own capital letter – on the day of play or (for the very best tickets) the day before (June 28).

The 2026 ballot opened on September 2, 2025, and closed on September 21, 2025, with winners randomly drawn and notified of their ticket status in phases. If you're looking ahead to 2027, register for the ballot by creating a myWimbledon account.

What's new in 2026?

The Championships have been held since 1877, and tennis's oldest tournament is steeped in history and tradition. This year, the event will take place over 14 days, with a full order of play available before the next day's play. The Junior Championships (18 and under) will take place beginning July 4, while juniors under 14 and wheelchair players will compete alongside the invitation event in the second week.

This year, Wimbledon fans will have the opportunity to experience The Wimbledon Court in Central Park, New York, from June 26 to 29. Wollman Rink will be transformed into a pop-up grass tennis court for the span of four days, with tennis icons (yet to be named) playing a doubles match.

Who is playing where?

To find out where (and roughly when) particular players are on court, search the following day's scheduled matches on the Order of Play, which is published on the tournament's website each evening. Foul weather can scupper the best-laid plans, unless they involve Centre Court or Court No.1 – retractable roofs have guaranteed play on each since 2009 and 2019 respectively.

This year, fans anticipate watching defending men's singles champion Jannik Sinner and defending women's singles champion Iga Świątek. A few other key contenders to watch include Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. Both Sinner and Świątek are one Grand Slam away from completing the Career Grand Slam (winning all four major singles titles) — a compelling storyline to follow for anyone at the tournament this year. A full list of competitors will be available ahead of the tournament.

What are the different types of Wimbledon tickets?

Every day at the Championships, there are thousands of Grounds Admission passes available (payable by card only), allowing incredibly close access to all 14 non-ticketed "outside" courts. If budget is key, the most affordable option is the grounds pass at 33 British pounds (£33) for the first eight days, £26 for days nine to 11 and £21 for the tournament's final three days. Centre Court tickets range anywhere from £70–90 in the first round, and increase in price to £240-315 for the finals. In the early rounds, tickets for a match on Court No. 3 start at £55. Per Wimbledon tradition, Debenture tickets (roughly £2,195 per session) offer spectators prime seating at Centre Court and Court No. 1, exclusive access and the ability to transfer or sell tickets.

Wimbledon operates an official on-site resale system. If a ticket holder leaves Centre Court, No.1 Court or No.2 Court before the day's play ends, the ticket office will take the ticket back and resell it at a steep discount. In 2025, Centre Court resale tickets were sold for as little as £15, and No.1 Court and No.2 Court tickets for £10 each. The kiosk is located to the north of Court No.18, near the top of St Mary's Walk. Only those already inside the grounds with a valid ticket or ground pass can access it.

Additionally, the All England Lawn and Tennis Club reserves a small number of tickets that go on sale at 9am each morning via Ticketmaster for the following day's play. These sell out almost immediately. Ticketmaster also resells ballot tickets 48 hours before a match.

How do you get a ticket on the day through the Queue?

Queuing is a marvelous British institution and, as one would expect at the All England Club, it is done with style and grace. The Queue begins the evening before and grows early morning on the day; it's a good idea to check the status online before heading to Wimbledon Park. Pedestrian gates for Wimbledon Park are open 6:30am to 10pm on Revelstoke Rd and Home Park Rd. The main entrance gates on Wimbledon Park Rd are open 24 hours daily.

If you hope to purchase same-day tickets, head to the lush lawns of Wimbledon Park (opposite the All England Club), where charming stewards politely guide visitors into the Queue. Once the embossed queue card is in hand, it's simply a waiting game. Tickets are sold one per person and are not transferable. Once the grounds reach capacity, no more tickets for the day are sold.

This year, guests must download the Wimbledon app and create a myWimbledon account to purchase a ticket. When you line up at the end of the Queue, you'll be issued a Queue card (so long as it's not at capacity). A card does not guarantee entry; it only allows the opportunity to purchase a ticket. While you can arrive at any time in the day to buy a grounds pass, it's smart to arrive several hours before the grounds open at 10am. It's also possible to catch evening matches after work or a day of sightseeing, but that is dependent on weather and who is on court that night (Sinner, Alcaraz, Gauff and Świątek clog the turnstiles).

What about waiting overnight for Centre Court and Court No.1 tickets?

The demand for tickets on Centre Court and Court No.1 is such that it is necessary to join the Queue the day before play (by 7am for a chance at Centre Court) – come prepared with toiletries, a small two-person tent, mattress and sleeping bag. Campers are well catered for on the lawns, with numerous toilets and various options for hot food, including patrolling salespeople for takeaways (they deliver right to the park gate). Once you've set up camp, you can enjoy the park's surroundings (weather permitting) – throw a Frisbee, play football or simply lounge on the grass by your tent with a good book. It's also possible to nip into Southfields for a coffee, a quick meal or to buy groceries, but check in with a steward beforehand.

A cheery blue-blazer brigade of stewards will wake campers at precisely 6am. It doesn't matter if they've had a poor night's sleep; excitement and anticipation are everywhere. After the tents have come down and camping kit has been safely stored in the park's left luggage facility (£5 charge, card only), colored wristbands are issued for each of the show courts. If you're in the first 500 in the Queue your choice of court is almost guaranteed, while those further down are relying on a little luck.

As everyone is now aware who they'll be watching on court, the enthusiasm continues to build within the lines of soon-to-be spectators as they meander closer and closer to the entry gates. Note: payments must be made by credit or debit card. With money spent, tickets in hand and giggles in tow, you should spill through the turnstiles and into the grounds at 10:30am. Matches begin on the outside courts at 11am, with show courts starting at 1pm.

What's it like once you're in?

Stroll around the outside courts to absorb the atmosphere, whether observing the likes of Djokovic and Gauff warming up, or by watching other players doing battle on the grass in early matches. As 1pm approaches, take a big breath and walk into tennis' most hallowed ground. Relish in all that internal oohing and ahhing as your eyes race around the historic surroundings – you made it!

Walk over to the Hill (also called Murray Mound or Raducanu Ridge), a grassy bank where fans gather to watch matches on a large screen. It's free to enter with a grounds pass and is a memorable part of being at Wimbledon, especially if a British player is on court.

Entrants are permitted one bag per person with maximum dimensions of 40cm x 30cm x 30cm. Hard-sided cases, coolers and picnic baskets are not allowed. Upon entering, you must present a photo ID that matches the name on your ticket.