1.3 million visitors attended the Australian Open in 2026. Photo / Tennis Australia
In the eyes of tennis convert Tyson Beckett, AO stands for Awesome.
Inside the exclusive Club 1905, a dapper, suit-clad waiter pours a chilly trail of Grey Goose vodka from a lofty height. His arm motions up and down fluidly as if unfurling a yo-yo.
The trickle of iced spirit flows leisurely through the air-conditioned air into a martini glass on a chrome bar cart, frost creeping up the inverted cone as it fills. A welcome sight on a stonking January day.
Within shaking distance of the spectacle, I’m sitting, transfixed, in a plush velvet banquette booth wrapped around a table blanketed by a heavy white tablecloth. Not 10 minutes earlier, I was out in the blazing sun, crowds bustling as I wiped sweat and sticky icing from my top lip while polishing off a doughnut that looked like a tennis ball.
Fast forward 90 minutes and I’ll be in Row A of Rod Laver Arena, a plastic tumbler of Piper-Heidsieck champagne in one hand, a tennis ball launched into the stands by world No 1 tennis player Carlos Alcaraz in the other. That’s the Australian Open for you – the tournament touted as the Happy Slam has something to delight everyone who walks through the gates.
And it’s a lot of people. 1.3 million visitors attended the event in 2026 to catch heavy hitters like Naomi Osaka, Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka in action.
Up 12% on last year’s tournament, Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said this year’s tournament didn’t just beat the previous record, it smashed it. Thanks in part to Kiwi visitors.
Return patronage is a priority for tournament director Craig Tiley. Visitors have doubled under his decade of stewardship, possibly owing to the rule that half of the events should be brand new every year.
Recent additions include the incredibly fun One Point Slam, during which a selection of pros, celebrities, and amateurs compete in sudden-death, single-point matches for a A$1 million prize. AO Live, the concert series held at John Cain Arena, expanded to five nights this year, headlined by Korean DJ sensation Peggy Gou and American popstar Reneé Rapp.
To fit everything and everyone, Melbourne is doing what all big cities do – building up. Attractions like the Mecca ‘pro shop’ and New Balance pop-up are housed in multi-level constructions.
Fern Barrett, Tennis Australia’s head of product growth and innovation, joined the team in 2020 after a lengthy stint at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. An appointment that partly explains the tournament’s totally elevated eating options. Melbourne is a top destination for foodies of all ilk, and the menu at the AO reflects the city’s world-class dining culture.
I was lucky to nab one of the 1000 tennis ball doughnuts available from hyped sandwich shop Hector’s Deli each day. Cherished late-night Greek institution Stalactites doubled up with Brunswick restaurant Taverna for a crispy filo cigar stuffed with slow-roasted lamb and served with tzatziki.
Others queued for Ho Jiak’s golden prawn toast with a salted duck egg in the middle or snacked on spicy tuna onigiri from Japanese convenience store-inspired Suupaa between matches.
Famed dining experiences from further afield are on offer too. My lavish lunch was part of an AO Reserve premium ticket packages that included three-course pre-match lunch by chef Simon Rogan of three-Michelin-starred Cumbria restaurant L’Enclume. As we ate, my tablemates questioned how we’d find time (and stomach space) to squeeze in a Shake Shack burger. The AO appearance was the first time the New York fast-food chain was available in Australia.
You can get a taste of the festivities without even visiting the precinct, with many of the city’s best eateries offering nods to the event.
After the day session wraps, I swap the stands for Slowpoke Lounge & Lookout, a buzzy Collingwood rooftop bar where tables of tanned young things sip cocktails named after Australian legend Pat Rafter. The sweet pale blue concoctions combine gin, cremé de pêche, house-made spirulina syrup and fresh coconut cream. Balanced on top of the tulip glass is a skewer with three melon spheres resembling tennis balls.
The festival’s cultural influence is ballooning, and so are the rewards for winning, with the Australian Open offering a record AU$111.5 million ($193.8 million) in prize money.
Fortunately, efforts are being made to keep things accessible for those off the court. A grounds pass, allowing entry to unreserved seating at outer courts, practice sessions, big screens, and festival zone, has stayed the same price (between A$15 and $89) for a decade. Opening Week is free for kids. The tournament plans to add more space, shade, seats and screens to cater to its growing popularity.
Next year I’ll swap my exclusive, champagne-included lanyard for a deck chair in the common areas and catch the action with a beer in hand – I’ll leave just as happy.
GETTING THERE
Multiple major carriers, including Emirates, Air New Zealand and Qantas offer direct daily services between Auckland and Melbourne.
DETAILS
AO27 travel & experiences packages are on sale now via ausopentravel.com
The journalist travelled courtesy of Visit Victoria.