The final Grand Slam of the 2026 professional tennis season has officially arrived. Held annually at the iconic USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, the US Open Tennis Championships brings together the top male and female tennis players in the world to compete for Grand Slam glory, world ranking points, and record-breaking prize purses.
With domestic broadcasting rights held exclusively by ESPN and its partner networks, tennis fans across the United States have multiple ways to follow day and night sessions under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights.
In this comprehensive 2026 tournament guide, we cover the complete US Open match schedule, television channel listings, streaming platform comparisons, and how to watch live outer court coverage without cable.
2026 US Open Key Dates and Tournament Schedule
The 2026 US Open spans three full weeks of high-stakes competition, beginning with preliminary Fan Week events and culminating in the weekend championship singles finals.
Official Tournament Timeline:
- August 23 – August 29: Fan Week & Qualifying Tournament (Free public admission to outer court qualifying matches and exhibition events).
- August 30 – August 31: Men’s & Women’s Singles First Round (Main Draw Kickoff).
- September 1 – September 4: Second, Third, and Fourth Round Matches.
- September 8 – September 9: Men’s & Women’s Singles Quarterfinals.
- September 10 (Thursday): Women’s Singles Semifinals (Night Session).
- September 11 (Friday): Men’s Singles Semifinals (Day & Night Sessions).
- September 12 (Saturday): Women’s Singles Championship Final.
- September 13 (Sunday): Men’s Singles Championship Final.
US TV Channels & Broadcast Networks (ESPN, ABC & Tennis Channel)
The Walt Disney Company maintains the exclusive domestic television rights for the US Open in the United States, distributing coverage across broadcast networks and streaming platforms.
- ESPN & ESPN2: Serve as the primary daily television home for the tournament, providing wall-to-wall live coverage of morning, afternoon, and marquee prime-time night sessions from Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium.
- ABC: Broadcasts featured weekend main draw matches, including opening weekend showcase matches on Sunday, August 30, and the Men’s Singles Championship Final on Sunday, September 13.
- Tennis Channel: Provides daily pre-match analysis, morning studio previews, and highlight recaps, alongside coverage of select qualifying rounds during Fan Week.
- ESPN Deportes: Offers over 100 hours of Spanish-language live match coverage throughout the two-week main draw.
How to Stream the US Open 2026 Without Cable
Cord-cutters have several flexible, contract-free digital options to stream every court live.
1. ESPN+ (Best Overall for Complete Court Coverage)
For fans who want to choose specific outer court matches or follow non-seeded players, ESPN+ is an essential subscription.
- Coverage: Streams all outer courts simultaneously, providing dedicated camera feeds for Courts 4 through 17.
- Special Features: Includes the “US Open Red Zone” whip-around coverage feed, which automatically jumps between high-stakes break points and tiebreakers across all active courts.
2. Live TV Streaming Services (YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV)
If you want to stream ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC broadcasts live on your Smart TV, full-suite subscription live streaming platforms offer flexible monthly options.
- YouTube TV: Includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, featuring unlimited cloud DVR storage and multi-view streaming.
- Fubo: Includes ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and Tennis Channel in its sports package, offering 4K HDR stream upgrades for select marquee matches.
- Hulu + Live TV: Bundles live ESPN networks with complimentary access to Disney+ and ESPN+, giving you complete main draw and outer court access in a single subscription.
3. Sling TV (Budget-Friendly Option)
Sling TV’s Sling Orange package includes ESPN and ESPN2 for a lower monthly cost than full-suite streaming services, providing budget-conscious fans with access to primary tournament coverage.
4. Over-the-Air (OTA) Antenna for Free ABC Matches
By connecting a basic Digital HD Antenna to your TV, you can watch weekend ABC broadcasts—including the Men’s Singles Final—free over the air in 1080p uncompressed HD.
Key American Players to Watch in the 2026 US Open
American tennis enters the 2026 US Open with powerful momentum, featuring several top-ten contenders competing on home soil:
- Coco Gauff: The 2023 US Open Champion returns to New York aiming to capture her second home Grand Slam title behind her world-class athleticism and powerful baseline game.
- Jessica Pegula: Consistently ranked among the world’s top five singles players, Pegula brings veteran court positioning and hard-court expertise to Flushing Meadows.
- Taylor Fritz: America’s top-ranked male player leads a talented US men’s field with his massive serve and baseline forehand weapons.
- Ben Shelton & Frances Tiafoe: Crowd favorites known for explosive athleticism and electrified night-session performances inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
US Open 2026 Broadcast & Streaming Comparison Table
The table below compares top streaming platforms by channel access, outer court coverage, and target viewer audience:
| Streaming Platform | ESPN & ESPN2 Included? | ABC Included? | Outer Court Streams (ESPN+) | Best Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN+ | Selected Matches | No | Full 16-Court Access | Die-hard outer court tennis fans |
| YouTube TV | Yes | Yes | Requires Add-on | Complete cord-cutting sports fans |
| Hulu + Live TV | Yes | Yes | Included (Bundled) | Best all-in-one value package |
| Fubo | Yes | Yes | Requires Add-on | Multi-sport & 4K HDR fans |
| Sling TV (Orange) | Yes | No | Requires Add-on | Budget-conscious national viewers |
Frequently Asked Questions
What dates does the 2026 US Open take place?
The 2026 US Open main draw runs from Sunday, August 30 through Sunday, September 13, 2026, following Fan Week and qualifying rounds which began on August 23.
What channel is the US Open Tennis on in the US?
Main television coverage airs on ESPN and ESPN2, with select weekend showcase matches and the Men’s Singles Final airing free over the air on ABC.
Can I stream the US Open on ESPN+ without a cable subscription?
Yes. ESPN+ streams thousands of live outer court matches, doubles events, and the whip-around “US Open Red Zone” feed directly without requiring a cable TV login.
What time do night sessions start at Arthur Ashe Stadium?
Prime-time night sessions at Arthur Ashe Stadium typically begin at 7:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), featuring two marquee featured matches under the stadium lights.
Where is the US Open Tennis played?
The US Open is played on outdoor hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City.
Disclaimer: The 2026 US Open promises two weeks of thrilling athletic drama as the world’s best tennis players clash in New York. By pairing ESPN’s primary TV broadcasts with ESPN+ for complete outer court access, American tennis fans won’t miss a single ace or championship point.
