Wimbledon 2026: Start date, draw time, wildcards, schedule and how to watch on TV

Wimbledon is just around the corner (Picture: Getty)

Wimbledon is back for 2026 as the world’s best tennis players gather in London to compete in the most prestigious tournament in the sport.

World No1 Jannik Sinner is the defending champion in the men’s singles while Iga Swiatek won last year’s women’s singles title.

The Championships always serve up a number of interesting storylines and there a number of British players to keep an eye on in SW19 this year.

Here’s everything you need to know about Wimbledon 2026 including the start date, how to watch on TV, draw information and the full schedule of play.

When does Wimbledon start?

Wimbledon will start on Monday, June 29 and will end with the men’s singles final on Sunday, July 12.

The tournament will run for 14 days straight, with the ‘Middle Sunday’ rest day scrapped back in 2022.

Jannik Sinner is the defending champion (Picture: Getty)

How to watch on TV

The BBC remains the principal broadcaster of Wimbledon and you can follow all the action for free on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

In previous years, both the BBC and Eurosport have shown the singles finals but in 2026 it will be the BBC and TNT Sports broadcasting them.

Clare Balding will lead the BBC’s presenting team and you can expect to see the likes of Tim Henman, John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova working on their coverage.

When is the Wimbledon draw?

Emma Raducanu is one of many British players in action at Wimbledon (Picture: Getty)

The Wimbledon draw will take place at 10am on June 26.

That’s when we’ll know who will face who in the opening rounds and the projected paths for each player to the finals.

How to get Wimbledon tickets

It should be noted that the majority of tickets for Centre Court and the No.1 Court are unavailable because the public Wimbledon ballot has closed.

But spectators are still able to use the famous Wimbledon queue every day to try and get a grounds pass or tickets to one of the show courts.

If you reach the front of the queue and there are only grounds passes left, fans can try the ticket resale kiosk once inside the grounds, located north of Court 18, who sell a number of resale tickets for the show courts.

Iga Swiatek claimed the trophy in 2025 (Picture: Getty)

Wimbledon prize money

A record total of £64.2m in prize money will be awarded to players at Wimbledon 2026.

Wildcards

Serena Williams is back at Wimbledon (Picture: Getty)

Serena Williams, fresh from her return to tennis, is unquestionably the biggest name to be handed a wildcard, with the 23-time Grand Slam winner also featuring in the doubles with sister Venus.

French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska is also a beneficiary, as are Britishstars Harriet Dart, Alicia Dudeney, Hannah Klugman, Mika Stojsavljevic, Katie Swan and Mimi Xu.

Five of the wildcards in the men’s singles have gone to British players; Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Jack Pinnington Jones, Toby Samuel and Harry Wendelken.

The other two, meanwhile, have gone to Grigor Dimitrov and Stan Wawrinka.

Order of Play

Once the tournament is underway, the official Order of Play will be released each evening at approximately 6pm, although it can be subject to change.

The Order of Play can be located on Wimbledon’s official website here.

Novak Djokovic is attempting to win his 25th Grand Slam singles title (Picture: Getty)

Full schedule

After the gates open each day at 10am, play is provisionally scheduled to start on outside courts at 11am. On the No.1 Court, play starts at 1pm and on Centre Court, play starts at 1.30pm.

June 29

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles First Round  

June 30

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles First Round  

July 1

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Second Round Gentlemen’s Doubles First Round

July 2

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Second Round Gentlemen’s & Ladies’ Doubles First Round

July 3

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Third Round Gentlemen’s & Ladies’ Doubles Second Round Ladies’ Doubles First Round Mixed Doubles First Round

July 4

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Third Round Gentlemen’s & Ladies’ Doubles Second Round Mixed Doubles First Round Boys’ and Girls’ Singles First Round (18&U)

July 5

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Fourth Round Gentlemen’s Doubles Third Round Ladies’ Doubles Second Round Mixed Doubles Second Round Boys’ and Girls’ Singles First Round (18&U)

July 6

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Fourth Round Gentlemen’s & Ladies’ Doubles Third Round Mixed Doubles Quarter-finals Girls’ Singles Second Round (18&U) Boys’ & Girls Doubles First Round (18&U)

July 7

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Quarter-finals Gentlemen’s Doubles Quarter-finals Ladies’ Doubles Third Round Mixed Doubles Semi-finals Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Wheelchair Singles First Round Boys’ Singles Second Round (18&U) Girls’ Doubles First Round (18&U) Invitation Doubles (Ladies’ Doubles, Gentlemen’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles)

July 8

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Quarter-finals Gentlemen’s & Ladies’ Doubles Quarter-finals Quad Wheelchair Singles Quarter-finals Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Wheelchair Doubles Quarter-finals Boys’ & Girls’ Singles Third Round (18&U) Boys’ & Girls’ Doubles Second Round (18&U) Invitation Doubles (Ladies’ Doubles, Gentlemen’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles)

July 9

Ladies’ Singles Semi-finals Gentlemen’s Doubles Semi-finals Ladies’ Doubles Quarter-finals Mixed Doubles Final Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Wheelchair Singles Quarter-finals Gentlemen’s, Ladies’ & Quad Wheelchair Doubles Semi-finals Boys’ & Girls’ Singles Quarter-finals (18&U) Boys’ & Girls’ Doubles Quarter-finals (18&U) Boys’ and Girls’ 14&U Singles Invitation Doubles (Ladies’ Doubles, Gentlemen’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles)

July 10

Gentlemen’s Singles Semi-finals Ladies’ Doubles Semi-finals Gentlemen’s, Ladies’ & Quad Wheelchair Singles Semi-finals Boys’ & Girls’ Singles Semi-finals (18&U) Boys’ & Girls’ Doubles Semi-finals (18&U)Boys’ and Girls’ 14&U Singles Invitation Doubles (Ladies’ Doubles, Gentlemen’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles)

July 11

Gentlemen’s Doubles Final Ladies’ Singles Final Ladies’ Wheelchair Singles Final Gentlemen’s & Quad Wheelchair Doubles Final Girls’ Singles Final (18&U) Girls’ Doubles Final (18&U) Boys’ Doubles Final (18&U) Boys’ and Girls’ 14&U Singles Semi-finals Invitation Doubles (Ladies’ Doubles, Gentlemen’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles)

July 12

Ladies’ Doubles Final Gentlemen’s Singles Final Gentlemen’s & Quad Wheelchair Singles Finals Ladies’ Wheelchair Doubles Final Boys’ Singles Final (18&U) Boys’ & Girls’ 14&U Singles Finals Invitation Doubles (Ladies’ Doubles, Gentlemen’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles) Comments Add as preferred source