Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, held annually at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. The 2026 Championships run from 29 June to 12 July. As the only Grand Slam still played on grass, the original surface of the sport, Wimbledon occupies a unique place in the tennis calendar and in global sporting culture.
What is Wimbledon?
The Wimbledon Championships, commonly known simply as Wimbledon, is one of four Grand Slam tournaments in professional tennis. First held in 1877, it is the oldest tennis competition in the world and the only major still played on natural grass. The tournament features men’s and women’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles, wheelchair events, and junior competitions.
Wimbledon is renowned for its traditions: players must wear predominantly white clothing, strawberries and cream are served to spectators, and the Royal Box on Centre Court hosts dignitaries and sporting legends. The main draw features 128 players in both the men’s and women’s singles, with seven rounds of play across two weeks. The grass surface produces a faster, lower-bouncing game that rewards serve-and-volley play and quick reflexes.
When is Wimbledon?
The 2026 Wimbledon Championships run from Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July. Qualifying rounds take place from approximately 22 June, one week before the main draw begins. Play starts at 11:00 AM local time (BST) each day.
The women’s singles final is scheduled for Saturday 11 July, with the men’s singles final on Sunday 12 July. The middle Sunday, traditionally a rest day, has been a scheduled day of play since 2022, giving the tournament 14 consecutive days of competition.
Where is Wimbledon?
Wimbledon is held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, south-west London. Centre Court is the main show court, with a capacity of approximately 14,979 spectators and a retractable roof completed in 2009 that allows play to continue in wet weather. No. 1 Court seats 12,345 and also has a retractable roof, installed in 2019.
The grounds include 18 championship grass courts, along with practice facilities. The venue is accessible via Southfields Underground station (District line) or Wimbledon station (District line, South Western Railway), with a short walk or shuttle bus to the gates. The All England Club has been at its current Church Road location since 1922, having moved from its original Worple Road site.
Key Contenders
Jannik Sinner is the defending men’s singles champion, having defeated Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the 2025 final (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4). The Italian’s powerful baseline game proved effective on grass, and he will be the man to beat in 2026. Alcaraz, who won back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 2023 and 2024, will be determined to reclaim the trophy.
Novak Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, remains a contender on the surface where he has enjoyed extraordinary success. Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev are among the other leading threats in the men’s draw.
Iga Swiatek is the defending women’s champion after her extraordinary 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Amanda Anisimova in the 2025 final, becoming the first Polish Wimbledon singles champion in the Open Era. Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff will be among the leading challengers in the women’s draw.
How to Watch Wimbledon
Wimbledon has extensive global broadcast coverage. In the United Kingdom, the BBC provides comprehensive free-to-air coverage across BBC One, BBC Two, and the BBC Red Button service, with all matches available to stream live on BBC iPlayer. The BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon is one of British sport’s longest-running broadcast partnerships.
In the United States, ESPN holds the broadcast rights, with live coverage across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC for select weekend matches, plus extensive court-by-court streaming on ESPN+. In Australia, Channel 9 and Stan Sport provide coverage. Canadian viewers can watch on TSN. Across Europe, Eurosport carries the tournament in numerous territories. In Asia, WOWOW broadcasts in Japan and Star Sports in India.
History and Records
Wimbledon was first held in 1877 at the All England Croquet Club’s grounds on Worple Road, with just 22 men competing in the inaugural gentlemen’s singles. The ladies’ singles was introduced in 1884, and the tournament moved to its current Church Road location in 1922. The Championships were not held during the two World Wars.
Roger Federer holds the men’s Open Era record with eight singles titles (2003-2007, 2009, 2012, 2017), including five consecutive victories from 2003 to 2007. Martina Navratilova holds the women’s record with nine singles titles. Novak Djokovic has won seven titles, the second-most in the men’s Open Era. In the pre-Open Era, Pete Sampras won seven titles, while William Renshaw won seven in the 19th century.
Among the most iconic moments in Wimbledon history are Bjorn Borg’s five consecutive titles (1976-1980), the legendary Federer-Nadal final of 2008 (widely considered the greatest match ever played), and Novak Djokovic’s run of four consecutive titles from 2018 to 2022 (excluding the cancelled 2020 edition).
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for Wimbledon are primarily allocated through the public ballot, a randomised lottery system managed by the All England Club. The ballot typically opens in late August or September and closes in mid-September, with successful applicants notified from October. Ballot tickets cannot be requested for specific days, courts, or seats.
Ballot ticket prices for 2026 are set at GBP 33 for Grounds Passes during the first eight days, GBP 26 for days nine to eleven, and GBP 21 for the final three days. Show court tickets range from GBP 55 for Court 3 in the early rounds to GBP 350 for Centre Court finals seats.
Wimbledon’s famous Queue is another route to tickets: spectators camp overnight or arrive early to join the queue for a limited number of daily tickets sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Debenture holders can buy and resell tickets through the official debenture marketplace. Hospitality packages are available through official partners including Keith Prowse.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Wimbledon start?
The 2026 Championships begin on Monday 29 June, with qualifying rounds starting approximately one week earlier. The tournament concludes on Sunday 12 July with the men’s singles final.
Where is Wimbledon held?
Wimbledon is held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Church Road, Wimbledon, south-west London, England.
How can I watch Wimbledon?
In the UK, the BBC provides free-to-air coverage on BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC iPlayer. In the US, ESPN holds the rights. Eurosport covers much of Europe, with Channel 9 and Stan Sport in Australia.
Who won Wimbledon in 2025?
Jannik Sinner won the men’s singles title, defeating Carlos Alcaraz. Iga Swiatek won the women’s title with a historic 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova.
What is the Wimbledon Queue?
The Queue is Wimbledon’s famous system for selling daily ground and show court tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. Spectators queue overnight or from early morning for a limited allocation of tickets released each day of the Championships.