The 2026 US Open Guide: What to Know, Wear and Watch
New York energy. Late-night tennis. The game’s biggest stars under the lights. Here’s everything you need to know before the final Grand Slam of the year.
There are tennis tournaments, and then there is the US Open.
For three weeks each summer, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center becomes the center of the tennis universe. The atmosphere is louder, the crowds are livelier and the matches have a habit of stretching well past bedtime. Add the unmistakable energy of New York City, and the result is a Grand Slam experience unlike any other.
The 2026 US Open runs from August 23 through September 13, beginning with a full week of qualifying, player practices and fan experiences before the singles main draw starts on August 30.
Whether you are planning your first visit to Flushing Meadows, returning for another night under the lights or watching every point from home, consider this your Tennis DuJour guide to the 2026 US Open.
Mark Your Calendar
The 2026 tournament begins with US Open Fan Week from Sunday, August 23, through Saturday, August 29. The men’s and women’s singles main draws begin Sunday, August 30, and continue through the women’s final on Saturday, September 12, and the men’s final on Sunday, September 13.
A few key dates:
August 23–29: US Open Fan Week
August 24–27: Men’s and women’s singles qualifying
August 24–26: Mixed doubles qualifying and championship
August 30: Singles main draw begins
September 10: Women’s semifinals
September 11: Men’s semifinals
September 12: Women’s final
September 13: Men’s final
Schedules can change because of weather, match length and other tournament considerations, so check the official order of play before heading to the grounds.
Do Not Overlook Fan Week
One of the best ways to experience the US Open may happen before the main draw begins.
During Fan Week, visitors can watch top players practice, see emerging talent compete in qualifying and enjoy tennis activities throughout the grounds.
It is especially good for families, first-time visitors and devoted tennis fans who care as much about watching a practice session from a few rows away as they do about sitting inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day kicks off the week, followed by qualifying and a full schedule of practices and special events.
Fan Week also includes an expanded mixed doubles schedule, making the days leading into the main draw feel more like a true part of the tournament rather than simply a warmup.
Some special events require separate tickets, so review the schedule carefully before planning your visit.
Choosing the Right US Open Ticket
Before buying a ticket, think about the kind of experience you want.
Arthur Ashe Stadium Tickets
An Arthur Ashe Stadium ticket gives you an assigned seat in the tournament’s largest stadium and access to many of the other courts during the applicable session.
This is generally the best choice if seeing the game’s most recognizable players is your priority. The biggest names and marquee matches are most likely to appear in Ashe, although the order of play is usually not finalized until shortly before each day’s matches.
Grounds Admission
A grounds ticket lets you move throughout much of the National Tennis Center and watch matches on a variety of courts, but it does not include a reserved seat inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
During the opening rounds, this can be one of the most enjoyable ways to see the tournament. Dozens of players are competing across the grounds, and it is possible to spend the day moving between matches instead of staying in one seat.
Some of the best US Open memories happen on smaller courts, where the players are close, the crowds gather tightly and a match between two lesser-known names suddenly becomes the contest everyone is talking about.
Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand
Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand offer a happy medium between the scale of Arthur Ashe and the intimacy of the outer courts.
These courts frequently host excellent matches, particularly during the early rounds, and can provide a much closer view of the action.
Day Session or Night Session?
The daytime and evening sessions offer distinctly different versions of the US Open.
A day session gives you more time to explore. Play is happening across several courts, the grounds are active and you have a better chance of seeing multiple matches and players.
It is the right choice for anyone who wants a full day of tennis rather than one featured matchup.
A night session delivers the drama.
The lights come on, the crowd gets louder and Arthur Ashe Stadium takes on an atmosphere that feels part sporting event and part New York spectacle.
For a first visit, we would choose a day session during the opening week. You will see more tennis, explore more of the grounds and have more opportunities to discover a future star.
For a return visit—or an unforgettable New York evening—it is hard to beat a marquee match under the lights.
The perfect answer, naturally, is to experience both.
When Is the Best Time to Go?
There is no bad stage of the US Open, but different weeks provide different experiences.
Opening Rounds
The first several days offer the greatest variety. Nearly every court is active, established champions play alongside qualifiers and the grounds carry the feeling that anything could happen.
This is the best time for fans who want to maximize the number of matches they see.
Middle Weekend
By the middle weekend, the tournament’s stories have begun to take shape. The fields are smaller, the matchups are stronger and both singles and doubles remain in play.
Expect larger crowds, especially around Labor Day.
Quarterfinals Through Finals
The final rounds bring higher stakes and the most recognizable matchups, but fewer matches are played each day.
Choose this stage when seeing championship-level tennis inside the major stadiums matters more than wandering among a full schedule of outer-court matches.
Getting to Flushing Meadows
The US Open is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens.
For many visitors, public transportation is the easiest option. The Mets–Willets Point station sits near the tennis center and is accessible by both subway and rail.
Allow extra time for crowded trains, walking to the entrance and passing through security. Traffic around the grounds can become heavy, particularly before evening sessions and on popular weekend dates.
Our advice: arrive earlier than you think you need to.
There is always another practice court to visit, shop to browse or match to catch.
What to Wear and Bring
The US Open may be a sporting event, but this is New York—and the stands have become almost as interesting to watch as the court.
For a daytime session, think sporty, polished and prepared for heat.
A tennis skirt or dress, tailored shorts, an easy button-down or polo and a classic cap all feel right at home without looking as though you are waiting for a court assignment.
A vintage-inspired tennis skirt paired with a crisp top and understated cap is an especially easy formula. It nods to the history of the game while still feeling modern enough for New York.
And if you have been waiting for the right occasion to wear a little vintage Nike, this may be it.
Comfortable shoes are essential. Even with reserved seats, a day at the US Open involves plenty of walking, stadium steps, lines and wandering between courts.
For an evening session, add a lightweight layer. A half-zip, fine-gauge sweater or easy jacket can be slipped into your bag during the day and pulled out once the sun goes down.
The Varley Ebba Half Zip Midlayer is the kind of piece we love for this: polished enough for New York, comfortable enough for a long day and easy to layer.
As for what to bring, keep it simple:
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Sunglasses
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Sunscreen
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Portable phone charger
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Lightweight layer
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Only the essentials
And keep the bag itself compact.
US Open security rules limit the size of bags permitted inside the grounds, so always check the tournament’s current policy before leaving for Flushing Meadows.
A small tennis-inspired tote or crossbody is usually a better choice than a full racquet bag.
Tennis DuJour tip: Leave a little room. There is a very good chance you will come home with something bearing the US Open logo.
Shop the US Open Edit
A few Tennis DuJour favorites for the season:
Vintage Nike Tennis Skirt
A little retro, a little sporty and very right for Flushing Meadows.
Ame & Lulu Tennis Cap
The easiest way to add court-inspired style while keeping the afternoon sun at bay.
Varley Ebba Half Zip Midlayer
The extra layer you will be glad you packed for an evening session.
Frosted Tennis Cups
For anyone watching from home with a Honey Deuce-inspired cocktail in hand.
US Open: 50 Years of Championship Tennis
A beautiful look back at five decades of unforgettable matches, personalities and moments from New York’s Grand Slam.
Make Time to Explore the Outer Courts
A reserved stadium seat can become the centerpiece of your day, but it should not become the entire day.
Walk the practice courts. Watch a doubles match. Find a junior player or qualifier whose name you do not yet recognize. Take a seat on an outer court where the coaches and players’ teams are only a few rows away.
At a Grand Slam, the distance between a rising player and a global star can be surprisingly small.
Today’s outer-court discovery may be playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium next year.
Food, Drinks and the Honey Deuce
Part of the US Open experience happens away from the baseline.
The grounds offer everything from quick snacks to full meals and cocktails, but one drink has become almost as recognizable as the tournament itself: the Honey Deuce.
Traditionally served with melon balls resembling tennis balls, it is part cocktail, part souvenir and very much part of the modern US Open experience.
Lines can become longer during natural breaks in play, so consider eating slightly earlier or later than traditional lunch and dinner hours.
A full day at the Open can easily extend well into the evening, which makes hydration and regular breaks especially important.
And if you are watching from home?
Mix your own Honey Deuce-inspired cocktail or mocktail, pull out the frosted tennis glasses and consider it your own little slice of Flushing Meadows.
Bring the Open Home
The tournament lasts only a few weeks, but its stories stretch back generations.
US Open: 50 Years of Championship Tennis celebrates five decades of unforgettable champions, matches, personalities and moments from New York’s Grand Slam.
For readers drawn to the history of the women’s game, Trailblazers: The Unmatched Story of Women’s Tennis is another worthy addition to the tennis bookshelf.
Together, they are a reminder that every US Open becomes part of a much larger story.
The Final Word
Wimbledon may have tradition and Roland-Garros may have red clay, but the US Open belongs to the night.
It is bold, unpredictable and unapologetically energetic.
Music fills the grounds. Planes pass overhead. Crowds become part of the match. Players must manage not only their opponents, but also the noise, heat and pressure of competing on tennis’s biggest stage in one of the world’s most restless cities.
Come for the champions.
Stay for the qualifier battling on an outer court, the doubles team making an improbable run and the match that somehow reaches its final set long after you expected to be asleep.
That is the beauty of the US Open.
You may arrive with a carefully planned itinerary, but the tournament has a way of writing its own story.
The 2026 US Open runs August 23 through September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. Tournament schedules, policies and event details are subject to change. Check the official US Open website before your visit.