The Australian Open awarded a record A$111.5 million in total prize money in 2026, a 16 percent increase from A$96.5 million in 2025. The men’s and women’s singles champions each received A$4.15 million, while first-round singles players earned A$150,000.
All figures below are in Australian dollars and apply to the completed 2026 tournament. Australian Open prize money changes annually, so the tables should be refreshed when the next official breakdown is released.
Australian Open 2026 Singles Prize Money
Men and women received equal prize money at every singles round.
| Singles Result | Prize Money Per Player |
|---|---|
| Champion | A$4,150,000 |
| Runner-up | A$2,150,000 |
| Semifinal | A$1,250,000 |
| Quarterfinal | A$750,000 |
| Fourth round | A$480,000 |
| Third round | A$327,750 |
| Second round | A$225,000 |
| First round | A$150,000 |
The champion’s award increased by 19 percent from A$3.5 million in 2025. The runner-up received 13 percent more than the previous year, while first-round prize money rose by approximately 14 percent from A$132,000.
Australian Open 2026 Qualifying Prize Money
The qualifying draws contained 128 men and 128 women. Players had to win three matches to claim one of 16 qualifying places in each singles main draw.
| Qualifying Result | Prize Money Per Player |
|---|---|
| Lost in final qualifying round | A$83,500 |
| Lost in second qualifying round | A$57,000 |
| Lost in first qualifying round | A$40,500 |
Qualifying payouts rose by 16 percent in 2026. Tennis Australia reported that qualifying prize money had increased by 55 percent since 2023, reflecting a wider effort to support players below the top of the rankings.
A player who successfully qualified moved into the main-draw prize structure. If that player then lost in the first round, the applicable 2026 main-draw award was A$150,000.
Australian Open 2026 Doubles Prize Money
Men’s and women’s doubles used the same prize-money table. These amounts were paid per team, not per player.
| Doubles Result | Prize Money Per Team |
|---|---|
| Champion | A$900,000 |
| Runner-up | A$485,000 |
| Semifinal | A$275,000 |
| Quarterfinal | A$158,000 |
| Third round | A$92,000 |
| Second round | A$64,000 |
| First round | A$44,000 |
If a doubles team splits its award evenly, each 2026 champion receives A$450,000 before taxes and expenses. The actual financial arrangement can be affected by team agreements and each player’s individual costs.
The match rules and court positioning in the team event are covered in the guide to tennis doubles rules.
How Much Did the 2026 Singles Champions Earn?
Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina each earned A$4.15 million for winning the 2026 singles titles. Equal prize money means the men’s and women’s champions receive the same award despite the men’s event using best-of-five-set matches and the women’s event using best of three.
The runner-up award was A$2.15 million. Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka therefore earned the same prize for reaching their respective finals.
Prize money is attached to the result, not the number of sets, hours or matches completed. A champion who advances by walkover receives the same round-based award as a champion who plays every scheduled match.
Is the Prize Money Cumulative?
The published figure for a round is the player’s award for reaching that stage, not an additional payment stacked on top of every earlier round. A singles quarterfinalist received A$750,000 in total tournament prize money, not the sum of the first-round through quarterfinal amounts.
The same principle applies in qualifying and doubles. Published tables show the payout associated with the final round reached.
Ranking points work differently from prize money and are governed separately by the ATP and WTA. The guide to how tennis rankings work explains how tournament results feed into the standings.
How Much Did Prize Money Increase in 2026?
The total pool rose from A$96.5 million in 2025 to A$111.5 million in 2026. That is an increase of A$15 million, or approximately 15.5 percent, rounded by the tournament to 16 percent.
| Category | 2025 | 2026 | Approximate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total prize pool | A$96.5m | A$111.5m | 16% |
| Singles champion | A$3.5m | A$4.15m | 19% |
| Singles runner-up | A$1.9m | A$2.15m | 13% |
| Singles semifinal | A$1.1m | A$1.25m | 14% |
| Singles first round | A$132,000 | A$150,000 | 14% |
| Qualifying first round | A$35,000 | A$40,500 | 16% |
| Doubles first round, per team | A$40,000 | A$44,000 | 10% |
Every singles and doubles player received at least a 10 percent increase. The largest percentage gains highlighted by the tournament included the singles champion and expanded support for qualifying players.
Australian Open Total Prize Money Growth
| Year | Total Prize Pool |
|---|---|
| 2016 | A$44m |
| 2021 | A$71.5m |
| 2023 | A$76.5m |
| 2024 | A$86.5m |
| 2025 | A$96.5m |
| 2026 | A$111.5m |
The 2026 pool was more than two and a half times the 2016 total. Growth has also focused on early rounds and qualifying, where prize money can have a large effect on whether a player can fund travel, coaching and training.
Do Men and Women Receive Equal Prize Money?
Yes. The Australian Open pays equal prize money to men and women in the corresponding singles rounds, as well as equal team awards in men’s and women’s doubles.
Equal singles prize money at the Australian Open has been in place since 2001. The four Grand Slams now all pay equal men’s and women’s prize money in their main singles draws, although they adopted that policy at different times.
The US Open was the first Grand Slam to introduce equal prize money, doing so in 1973. The US Open history and records guide explains how that change became part of the tournament’s identity.
Is A$111.5 Million Paid Only to Singles Players?
No. The total prize pool covers far more than the two main singles draws. It includes qualifying, men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles, wheelchair events and other competition categories covered by the tournament’s official distribution.
That is why multiplying the singles table by the number of players does not reproduce the entire A$111.5 million total. The headline pool also includes awards not shown in the three main tables above.
The Australian Open is a multi-event Grand Slam rather than a single competition. This overview of different tennis tournament types explains how majors sit within the ATP, WTA and ITF structure.
Prize Money vs Ranking Points
Prize money and ranking points both rise as a player advances, but they are not interchangeable. A player can use prize money immediately, while ranking points affect entry and seeding opportunities over a rolling period.
The ATP and WTA can award different point totals for the same women’s and men’s result even though the Australian Open pays equal money. Always use the applicable tour table when checking points.
Qualifiers can earn points during qualifying and then add main-draw points if they advance. Wildcards, direct entrants and qualifiers receive the same main-draw prize money for the same finishing round.
How Much Do Players Actually Keep?
The published award is gross prize money, not take-home income. Players may owe taxes and must pay expenses such as coaching, fitness support, physiotherapy, travel, accommodation and agent fees.
A first-round award can appear large, but a professional outside the top rankings may fund an international schedule for an entire team. The guide to how tennis players make money explains the difference between prize money, endorsements and net career income.
Doubles awards also need careful interpretation because the listed amount is per team. A first-round doubles team receiving A$44,000 does not automatically give each player that full amount.
Why Early-Round Prize Money Matters
Major champions receive the largest checks, but increases in qualifying and the first two main-draw rounds affect many more players. A total of 256 competitors begin the men’s and women’s singles main draws, while another 256 enter qualifying.
Higher early-round awards can help lower-ranked players cover the cost of reaching Australia and maintaining a professional support structure. They also reduce the financial gap between qualifying for a major and falling just short.
Key Figures to Remember
The 2026 Australian Open prize pool was A$111.5 million. Singles champions earned A$4.15 million each, first-round singles players earned A$150,000, first-round qualifying players earned A$40,500 and the winning men’s and women’s doubles teams earned A$900,000 per team.
Those amounts apply only to 2026 and are stated in Australian dollars. The next edition can change every figure, so the official annual announcement should be checked before using the table for financial planning or comparison.