How To Stream/Watch Australian Open 2026 For FREE
The 2026 Australian Open is a Grand Slam tennis tournament scheduled to take place at Melbourne Park from 18 January to 1 February 2026. It will mark the 114th edition of the Australian Open, the 58th edition in the Open Era, and the first major tournament of the season.
The event will feature competitions for professional players in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, alongside junior and wheelchair singles and doubles events. Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys enter the tournament as the defending singles champions.
Note: If you follow the instructions in this article correctly, you can watch ALL 2026 Australian Open matches live stream for 100% FREE!
How Can I Watch the Australian Open 2026 live Stream online for free?
You can watch the 2026 Australian Open live stream via 9Now.
However, If you’re not in a country where live streaming is made available, you’ll be blocked from accessing the live stream due to broadcasting rights.
Don’t worry, you can use a free Smart DNS service to bypass these restrictions. All you need to do is just;
- Register for a free Smart DNS account.
- Configure your device to use Smart DNS.
- Watch the 2026 Australian Open live stream.
Complicated? NO! Follow the easy guide below.
STEP 1: Register For A Smart DNS Account
To register, go to the Smart DNS Proxy website and click on Try It Now button.
Next, enter your name, email address and password to register with Smart DNS Proxy and click on SIGN UP.
You should now be getting an email from Smart DNS Proxy to verify your email address.
In the email you’ve received, please click on VERIFY MY EMAIL.
You will now be redirected to your account’s page and you should be able to see your account status.
STEP 2: Smart DNS Proxy Setup
Next, please set up a Smart DNS proxy service on your device.
To do so, click on the (+) icon next to the system you’re using and follow the instructions.
Right-click on your Network/Wireless icon at the bottom right-hand side of your taskbar and click on Network and Internet settings.
In the next screen, under Network & Internet, please click on Advanced network settings.
Now, choose More network adapter options which can be found under Related settings.
Next, Right-click on your active network adapter (Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection) and select Properties.
Un-Check Intenet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
In the General tab, click on Use the following DNS server addresses: and enter the DNS server addresses as per below:
- Prefered DNS Server: 54.229.171.243
- Alternate DNS Server: 23.21.43.50
Click OK & OK again to save your changes.
Click on the Wifi/Internet icon at the bottom right-hand side of your taskbar and click on Network & Internet Settings.
In the next screen, please click on Change Adapter Options under Status page.
Right-click on your active network adapter (Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection) and select Properties.
Please Un-Check Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) as the service doesn’t work over IPv6.
Next, double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or alternatively, you can select it and click on Properties.
In the General tab, click on Use the following DNS server addresses: and enter the DNS server addresses as per below:
- Prefered DNS Server: 54.229.171.243
- Alternate DNS Server: 23.21.43.50
When you’re done, click on OK.
Click on the Apple Logo located at the top left hand corner of your Mac and open System Preferences.
Navigate to Internet & Wireless and click on Network.
Select your active Internet Adapter (Wi-Fi if Wireless or Ethernet if Wired connection) and click on the Advanced button.
Select the DNS tab and click on the plus (+) button and enter the DNS server addresses as per below:
- 54.229.171.243
- 23.21.43.50
Note: You will need to click on the plus (+) button again to enter the second DNS server.
Click OK followed by the Apply button.
[/spoiler]
For Android, you can use an app to configure your device easily. To do so, follow the steps below:
Download DNS Changer App from Play Store or directly if you don’t have access to Play Store.
Once you’ve downloaded it, click on Install.
Next, Open the app and enter the following DNS servers as per below in the app and select START
- Primary Server: 54.229.171.243
- Secondary Server: 23.21.43.50
At the DnsChanger information, select OK.
When you see the Connection request message, select OK
If you see the Active status, you have configured your device. Next, just go to your home screen.
Note: If you no longer want to use the Smart DNS service, just tap on STOP.
Choose Settings from Home screen.
Tap on Wi-Fi.
Find your Wireless connection (which has a tick or check mark) and click on the blue ‘i‘ icon.
You should now be in your Wi-Fi details page. At the Configure DNS section, tap on Automatic.
At the DNS configuration screen, tap on Manual and tap on the red (-) minus icon to remove your existing DNS address.
Now, tap on the (+) Add Server and enter the DNS server addresses as per below:
- 54.229.171.243
- 23.21.43.50
Note: You will need to click on the plus (+) button again to enter the second DNS server.
Once you’ve added two DNS servers as per the image above, tap on Save at the top right corner to save the settings.
STEP 3: Check Smart DNS Configuration Status
Now that you’ve configured your device to use the Smart DNS, go to your Account and you should see green checkmarks next to DNS Setup and IP activation.
Note: If you didn’t get the green checkmarks, simply refresh the page.
Watch Australian Open 2026 Live Stream
You can now watch the 2026 Australian Open live stream via the links below 100% for FREE.
- 9Now (Recommended – Follow the steps below)
1. Change your device’s date and time setting to Australia. i.e. Sydney time
2. Go to your Account’s region configuration, and scroll down till you see Channel Group B. Now, choose Australia from the drop-down list and click on Update.
3. Wait for 5 minutes and then go to the 9 Now Australia website and click on Watch Live.
4. You will now need to register for a free account. Click on Sign Up and follow the on-screen instructions. If it asks you for a postcode, simply enter an Australian postcode. e:g 2000. You can also expand the guide below on the detailed steps.
1. Change your device’s date and time setting to Australia. i.e. Sydney time
2. Go to your Account’s region configuration, and scroll down till you see Channel Group B. Now, choose Australia from the drop-down list and click on Update.
3. Wait for 5 minutes and then go to the 9 Now Australia website. Now click on Watch Live and the Sign Up button
Now, enter your email address and password followed by the Continue button.
Next, enter your personal details. For the postcode, enter 2000 and click on Continue.
Finally, click on Create account.
Now, you will get an email for verification. Check your inbox and click on the link in the email you’ve received.
5. Once you’ve registered, you should be able to watch Australian Open via channel 9 Now
For Android / iPad / iPhone: If the TV site is redirecting to download their app, you can set your browser to request for a Desktop site and access it again.
If that didn’t work, you will need to download the fuboTV/9Now app from the app/play store.
If you don’t have a US (fuboTV) or Australian (9Now) app/play store account, you will not be able to download the app due to region restrictions. To resolve this, please follow the instructions at the link(s) below:
2026 Australian Open schedule
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| First Round | 18 Jan – 20 Jan 2026 |
| Second Round | 21 Jan – 22 Jan 2026 |
| Third Round | 23 Jan – 24 Jan 2026 |
| Fourth Round (Round of 16) | 25 Jan – 26 Jan 2026 |
| Quarterfinals | 27 Jan – 28 Jan 2026 |
| Semifinals | 29 Jan – 30 Jan 2026 |
| Finals Weekend | 31 Jan – 1 Feb 2026 |
| 👉 Women’s singles final: Sat, 31 Jan | |
| 👉 Men’s singles final: Sun, 1 Feb |
The full tournament schedule can be referred here.
Australia Open History
The Australian Open is one of the four major tennis Grand Slam tournaments, held annually in Melbourne, Australia. It is the first Grand Slam of the year, typically taking place in January. Here’s a summary of the history of the Australian Open:
Origins (1905-1960s)
- The tournament was first held in 1905 under the name “Australian Championships” and was initially open only to Australian players.
- It was played in different cities around Australia, with Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide hosting it intermittently.
- In 1927, the event became an international competition, attracting players from other countries, though still restricted mainly to those from the British Empire and a few other nations.
Post-WWII Era (1940s-1960s)
- After World War II, the tournament started to gain more international prestige but remained relatively small in comparison to the other Grand Slams.
- The tournament’s popularity was limited partly due to its timing (it occurred during the summer holiday period in the Southern Hemisphere) and the long travel distances for international players.
The Australian Open’s Rise (1970s-1980s)
- The tournament underwent significant changes in the 1970s. In 1969, the event introduced Open Era rules, meaning both amateurs and professionals could compete.
- The 1970s saw the first major wave of global stars competing in the tournament. Players like Rod Laver, John Newcombe, and Evonne Goolagong helped elevate the event’s status.
- In 1988, the Australian Open made its move to the Flinders Park (now known as Melbourne Park) and began to take on a more modern format.
Modern Era (1990s-present)
- The 1990s saw the tournament solidify its position as one of the top four Grand Slam events. The rise of international stars like Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Monica Seles, and Martina Hingis brought the tournament to global attention.
- In the 2000s, the Australian Open became synonymous with its iconic Rod Laver Arena, a state-of-the-art venue. Players like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic emerged, dominating the competition, especially in the 2010s.
- The 2000s and 2010s are considered the “Golden Age” of the Australian Open, as Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic have frequently battled for the men’s singles title, while Serena Williams dominated the women’s side.
Record-Breaking Moments
- Rod Laver is the only player to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments twice, once as an amateur and once as a professional (1962, 1969).
- Serena Williams became one of the greatest female players of all time, with several Australian Open titles to her name.
- In recent years, Novak Djokovic has been particularly dominant at the Australian Open, winning multiple titles and breaking numerous records. He has set the record for most Australian Open men’s singles titles.
Significant Changes in the 21st Century
- The Australian Open embraced technological advancements, including the introduction of Hawk-Eye (an electronic line-calling system) and indoor courts to combat the extreme heat.
- The tournament also made strides in gender equality, offering equal prize money for men and women since 2001.
Key Statistics and Records (as of 2023)
- Most Men’s Singles Titles: Novak Djokovic with 10 titles.
- Most Women’s Singles Titles: Margaret Court with 5 titles, though Serena Williams has 7.
- Most Titles in Men’s Doubles: Todd Woodbridge (Australia) with 12 titles.
- Most Titles in Women’s Doubles: Serena Williams (USA) and Venus Williams (USA) with 6 titles.
Recent Developments
- The tournament continues to evolve with improvements in fan experience, athlete welfare, and facilities.
- COVID-19 disrupted the 2021 and 2022 editions, but the tournament has bounced back with full capacity and a renewed focus on health protocols.
Legacy and Influence
- The Australian Open is celebrated not only for its rich history but also for its inclusivity, dedication to innovation, and the iconic performances by global tennis superstars. It remains one of the most anticipated events on the tennis calendar, with a legacy of both historical significance and cutting-edge modernity.
In sum, the Australian Open has grown from a regional championship into a global sporting spectacle, offering exciting moments and significant achievements over its long history.
Australian Open 2026 Resources
Please follow my WhatsApp Channel for the latest updates. You can also Contact Me if you need any further assistance.
