The 2026 US Open tennis schedule is clear enough for fans planning a trip to Queens and Flushing Meadows: Fan Week begins on Aug. 23, the main singles draw starts on Aug. 30, and the tournament runs through the men’s final on Sept. 13.
That timetable matters because the U.S. Open is not just one ticketed event. It is a three-week stretch of access points at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with free entry during parts of Fan Week, grounds passes for daytime sessions, and a free public day on Sept. 10.
What is free during US Open Fan Week?
Fan Week runs from Aug. 23 to Aug. 29, 2026, and grounds entry is free for qualifying matches, player practices and other events. For fans, that is the most open part of the tournament and the easiest way to see the site without needing a full session ticket.
That free access gives the U.S. Open a different feel before the main draw begins. It is the build-up period, but it still offers a chance to be around the action at the National Tennis Center while the event is getting underway.
When do tickets matter most?
Once the main singles draw kicks off on Aug. 30, the schedule moves into the more traditional ticketed phase. Grounds passes are available for daytime sessions from Aug. 30 through Sept. 8, meaning fans can still enter the grounds, but access is tied to the relevant ticket type.
There is also a separate free public opening on Sept. 10, when the National Tennis Center grounds are free and open to the public during the day. That sits between the end of the grounds-pass period and the closing weekend finals.
How the tournament concludes
The business end of the championship comes quickly after that. The women’s singles final is scheduled for Sept. 12, followed by the men’s final on Sept. 13, which also brings the tournament to a close.
For fans, the key dates are simple: Aug. 23 for Fan Week, Aug. 30 for the main singles draw, Sept. 10 for free public daytime access, and Sept. 12-13 for the finals. If you are planning ahead for US Open tennis 2026, those are the sessions that define the tournament from start to finish.
