Australian Open 2026 prize money: AU$111.5m pool and payouts

Introduction: Why prize money Australian Open 2026 matters

The prize money for the Australian Open 2026 is a key indicator of the tournament’s financial growth and its importance to professional tennis. With a record total pool and significant increases at every level, the distribution of winnings affects player earnings, scheduling decisions and the broader economics of the sport. Understanding the breakdown helps fans and players gauge how the first Grand Slam of the year rewards performance.

Main body: Details and breakdown of winnings

Total pool and historical context

The Australian Open 2026 carries a total prize pool of AU$111.5 million, a 16 per cent increase on the 2025 pool — the largest single-year rise in the tournament’s history. By value, this makes the 2026 event the second-highest prize purse in Grand Slam history, trailing only the record AU$134 million (US$90 million) offered at last year’s US Open. For comparison, the entire prize pool at the 2016 Australian Open was AU$44 million.

Singles payouts and round-by-round increases

The men’s and women’s singles champions will each receive AU$4,150,000 (approximately US$2.7 million), an 18.57% increase from the previous year. Runners-up are set to earn AU$2,150,000 (about US$1.4 million), a 13.16% rise. Semifinalists will collect AU$1,250,000 (around US$835,000) and quarterfinalists AU$750,000 (about US$501,000). Players eliminated in the first round will still take home AU$150,000 (roughly US$100,000), while reaching the second round guarantees at least AU$225,000 (approximately US$150,400). These increases represent growth at every stage compared with 2025 figures.

Conclusion: Significance and outlook

The expanded prize pool for the Australian Open 2026 underscores the tournament’s rising financial clout and delivers meaningful gains for players across the draw. Higher early-round payouts strengthen earnings security for lower-ranked competitors, while larger champion and finalist cheques raise the stakes at the top. If prize money continues to grow at this pace, the Australian Open will remain a competitive draw for elite players and could further narrow the gap with the US Open’s record purse. For fans and players alike, the 2026 increases make the season-opening major financially more consequential than ever.