Australian Open
The Australian Open at Melbourne Park: what a Ground Pass covers, when a reserved seat is the only way in, how to get there by tram, and where to sleep in Melbourne.
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Australian Open in short
The 2027 Australian Open runs from 11 to 31 January at Melbourne Park, with Opening Week from the 11th to the 16th and the main draw from Sunday 17 January. Ground Passes start from A$49 until 30 November 2026 and have a daily cap for the first time. They cover the outdoor courts, not Rod Laver Arena, which needs a reserved seat. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster and are digital only. The park is a 10-minute walk from the city center.
What happens when
- 11 to 16 January 2027
- Opening Week: a more affordable week with AO Ballpark, TOPCOURT, player appearances, Open Practice at Rod Laver Arena, AO Qualifying and charity matches
- 17 to 31 January 2027
- Main Draw: the world's top tennis players compete
- 30 and 31 January 2027
- Finals weekend, when the champions are crowned
Which ticket to buy
- Cheapest
Opening Week
Adults A$10 and kids A$5, with kids free on Monday 11 January, and Open Practice at Rod Laver Arena.
11–16 Jan
- Main draw, on a budget
Ground Pass
Outdoor courts, big screens, practice sessions, Grand Slam Oval and John Cain Arena subject to availability.
From A$49, capped daily
- A guaranteed seat
Rod Laver Arena
The largest show court, with a retractable roof, so play goes on in rain. A seat is a separate reserved ticket.
Price varies by session
- Between matches
Grand Slam Oval
The festival area, 45 percent larger in 2027, with a shade structure three times the size.
Included with a Ground Pass
The Australian Open guide
How the three weeks work
The 2027 Australian Open is on from Monday 11 to Sunday 31 January at Melbourne Park, beside the city center. Opening Week runs from 11 to 16 January, and the main draw starts on Sunday 17 January. The singles finals are on Rod Laver Arena: the women's on Saturday 30 January and the men's on Sunday 31 January.
Demand is expected to be strongest in the first week of the main draw, and for the first time the number of Ground Passes sold for each day is capped. If you want a Ground Pass in that week, buy it before you fly rather than counting on the gate.
Which ticket to buy
Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, and the general sale opened at 12 noon on Thursday 13 August 2026. Everything is digital: Ticketmaster says there are no printed tickets, and a screenshot is not accepted at the gate, so save the ticket to your phone wallet or the Australian Open app. Tickets are transferred one at a time in the Ticketmaster app, and resale goes through Ticketmaster's own resale platform.
Opening Week
Melbourne Park calls Opening Week the most affordable way into the tournament. Open Practice runs on Rod Laver Arena during the week.
Ground Pass
A Ground Pass covers the outdoor courts, the big screens, practice sessions and the festival area on Grand Slam Oval. It also covers John Cain Arena, subject to availability. The A$49 price is the early bird price and runs to 12:59pm on 30 November 2026; ausopen.com says the Ground Pass price has not increased since 2019.
The pass lists neither Rod Laver Arena nor Margaret Court Arena. For those you need a reserved seat.
Reserved arena seats
The three main arenas have retractable roofs, and play goes on under them if it rains. Outdoor matches can be paused or rescheduled. Prices depend on the venue, the session, the stage of the tournament and whether early bird pricing is still on.
- A reserved seat for the session
- Play continues under the roof
- Not covered by a Ground Pass
Where to watch
On a Ground Pass day, the outdoor courts and the practice sessions are yours, and John Cain Arena is open to you when there is room. Grand Slam Oval is the festival area, with big screens. Its footprint is 45 percent larger in 2027 and its shade structure is three times the size, which matters in a Melbourne January. Shaded seating and raised viewing platforms are set up around the park too.
Bring small bags, hats, sunscreen and sealed water bottles. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed in sealed containers. If you want to leave for lunch in the city, scan out at the gate for a pass-out and come back the same day.
Getting there
Melbourne Park is about a 10-minute walk from the city center, via Birrarung Marr or the Tanderrum Bridge. Extra train and tram services usually run during the tournament.
Tram 70 (Waterfront City Docklands to Wattle Park) runs from Flinders Street or Richmond and stops at Rod Laver Arena (stop 7B) and John Cain Arena (stop 7C). The nearest stations are Flinders Street, Richmond, Jolimont and Town Hall. Bus 246 stops at Olympic Boulevard and Punt Road.
By taxi, the rank is next to Melbourne Park Oval on Olympic Boulevard. Rideshare pick-up and drop-off is outside John Cain Arena on Olympic Boulevard, and the park asks guests not to order a ride until they reach it. Parking at Eastern Plaza (Entrance D) is limited, and Melbourne Park strongly recommends booking ahead. Accessible parking can be added when you buy tickets or through the Accessibility Line, 1300 308 999, 9am to 5pm daily.
For the airport transfer and the city tram zone, see Melbourne. Most visitors from outside Australia need an authority or visa before they fly: Australia ETA and eVisitor.
Where to sleep
Major events such as the Australian Open push room prices up across Melbourne, so book early or pick other dates. The central business district is the easiest base: it is inside the Free Tram Zone and a 10-minute walk from the park. Southbank, over the Yarra from Flinders Street, is a short walk over the Yarra to Flinders Street. Richmond is a station on the tram 70 line. Fitzroy and Collingwood, just north of the center, are the bars-and-live-music option.
- Australian Open centre within 0.8 km
- Guest score of 9.3/10 from 492 reviews
Where to stay for Australian Open
Tours and tickets
Partner options we would book ourselves.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Right now in Melbourne
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 75%
Melbourne
07:06 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today16°12°75%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Wed21°9°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu16°10°14%Thursday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Fri20°10°71%Friday: Rain. High 20°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Sat13°8°80%Saturday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Sun14°7°27%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 27%.
Updated 04:45 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Australian Open FAQ
When is the Australian Open in 2027?
From Monday 11 to Sunday 31 January 2027 at Melbourne Park. Opening Week runs 11 to 16 January, and the main draw runs from Sunday 17 January. The women's singles final is on Saturday 30 January and the men's on Sunday 31 January, both on Rod Laver Arena.
How much is a Ground Pass for the Australian Open?
From A$49 with early bird pricing, which ends at 12:59pm on 30 November 2026. A Ground Pass covers the outdoor courts, John Cain Arena subject to availability, the big screens, practice sessions and Grand Slam Oval. Daily Ground Pass numbers are capped for the first time in 2027.
Does a Ground Pass get me into Rod Laver Arena?
No. The pass lists the outdoor courts and John Cain Arena (subject to availability), not Rod Laver Arena or Margaret Court Arena. Seats there are reserved tickets, priced by venue, session, stage of the tournament and early bird availability.
What is the cheapest way to see the Australian Open?
Opening Week, 11 to 16 January. Melbourne Park lists adults at A$10 and kids at A$5, with kids free on Monday 11 January. Open Practice at Rod Laver Arena runs during the week.
How do I get to Melbourne Park?
On foot it is about 10 minutes from the city center via Birrarung Marr or the Tanderrum Bridge. Tram 70 runs from Flinders Street or Richmond to stops 7B (Rod Laver Arena) and 7C (John Cain Arena). The nearest stations are Flinders Street, Richmond, Jolimont and Town Hall.
What can I bring into Melbourne Park?
Small bags, hats, sunscreen and sealed water bottles. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed in sealed containers. Scan out at the gates for a pass-out if you want to leave and come back the same day.