Wimbledon
Wimbledon 2026: When, Where, Previous Winners & Leading Contenders
Wimbledon is the one tournament in tennis that still feels bigger than the sport around it and William Hill News bring you all the essential information in this guide to the competition.
The 2026 Championships return to the grass at SW19 with the men’s and ladies’ singles taking centre stage, but the fortnight also brings several other tournaments and invitation matches into the mix.
What is Wimbledon?
Wimbledon is the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament in the world and one of the few sporting events that comes with its own rhythm, dress code, and traditions.
It is staged by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and sits at the top table of the tennis calendar alongside the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, and the US Open.
The Championships feature men’s singles, ladies’ singles, men’s and ladies’ doubles, mixed doubles, junior competitions, wheelchair events, and invitation doubles.
That mix is why Wimbledon feels like a full tennis festival rather than just a singles event, even if the men’s and ladies’ singles still command the brightest spotlight.
Where and when is the Wimbledon Championship being played?
The 2026 Wimbledon Championships will be played at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, on grass courts. The main draw runs from Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July 2026, making it a 14-day event.
Qualifying takes place from 22 to 25 June 2026, so the build-up begins well before the main draw is sealed. The tournament schedule also shows the traditional rollout of events, with singles first, doubles starting during the first week, mixed doubles beginning shortly after, and junior, wheelchair, and invitation competitions filling the second week.
The men’s and ladies’ singles finals are both scheduled for the weekend finale, with the ladies’ final listed for not before 4:00pm and the gentlemen’s final also not before 4:00pm.
Prize money for 2026 has been set at £64,200,000, with the men’s and women’s singles champions each due £3,600,000.
Who are the previous Wimbledon winners?
Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek are the defending singles champions entering Wimbledon 2026. Sinner won the men’s singles in 2025, while Świątek lifted the ladies’ singles title.
The wider list of 2025 champions includes Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the men’s doubles, Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens in the women’s doubles, and Sem Verbeek with Kateřina Siiaková, who won mixed doubles.
In the wheelchair and junior events, Tokito Oda, Wang Ziying, Niels Vink, Ivan Ivanov, and Mia Pohánková were among the 2025 winners.
The previous champions matter at Wimbledon because grass often rewards players who already know how to solve its little puzzles.
Sinner arrives with the men’s title in hand, while Świątek returns as the women’s defending champion, so both singles draws and the tennis odds start with familiar faces at the top of the conversation.
Who’re the 2026 Wimbledon favourites?
Jannik Sinner is the main men’s singles favourite for Wimbledon 2026 after Carlos Alcaraz withdrew with a wrist injury.
Novak Djokovic sits in the chasing pack, while Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Alexander Zverev, and Jack Draper are the other names who look capable of making life awkward on grass for the frontrunners.
Sinner’s case is simple enough: he is the defending champion and the strongest proven fit for the surface among the leading contenders.
Alcaraz’s absence changes the shape of the draw immediately, because it removes the most obvious rival to the title and pushes the market toward Sinner and Djokovic as the headline pair.
Aryna Sabalenka is the leading ladies’ singles favourite and is projected to be the No. 1 seed. Iga Świątek, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva are among the other top seed-level threats, while Emma Raducanu and Alex Eala are set to be part of the seeded conversation as the final rankings fall into place.
| Men's Singles Contenders | Women's Singles Contenders |
|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner – defending champion and favourite | Aryna Sabalenka - projected No 1 seed |
| Novak Djokovic - chief challenger | Iga Świątek - defending champion |
| Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Alexander Zverev, Jack Draper - chasing group | Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva - leading contenders |
The safest read is that both singles draws should still feel open enough to produce a few twists, even with clear frontrunners. Grass at Wimbledon has a habit of punishing any player who drifts for a set, so the favourites matter, but the surface still keeps a few surprises in the locker.
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*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
