Wimbledon 2026: all you need to know

If you’re tuning into Wimbledon 2026 but need a quick tennis refresher, our ultimate bluffer’s guide covers everything you need to know, from the key players to where to watch this year’s biggest matches.  

To play or not to play? That was the question on Emma Raducanu’s mind all of last week ahead of her appearance at Wimbledon 2026. The 23-year-old, who was seeded 30th, was due to face Croatia’s Antonia Ružić on Court One today (Monday 29 June), but she had to withdraw due to a lower leg injury that turned into a stress fracture. Despite assuring journalists she would be able to play on Sunday afternoon, she announced her withdrawal a few hours later at around 10pm.

Taking to Instagram, Raducanu shared her disappointment: “Hi everyone. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but sadly I’ve had to withdraw from this year’s Wimbledon. I’ve done everything possible to try to get to the start line tomorrow but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I’ve been managing has developed into a stress fracture, and I’ve been medically advised to stop pushing through. Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process. I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. Especially at a time like this, it is invaluable. I look forward to seeing you when I’m back.”

While Raducanu was one of Team GB’s most promising players in this year’s tournament, there are still plenty of exciting reasons to tune in for the action over at SW19. So, if you find yourself at the pub wanting to impress your friends with the 2026 Wimbledon highlights, we’ve got you covered with this bluffers guide. Keep scrolling for all you need to know about this year’s tournament, from players to look out for to new technology on the court and where to watch on the BBC. 

One of the most highly anticipated returns on everyone’s minds this year is that of 23-time grand slam singles champion Serena Williams. The 44-year-old is making her return after four years away from the tournament, having being announced as the final wild card earlier this month. Her first match takes place on Tuesday, facing Australia’s Maya Joint on Centre Court for the last match of the day.

“I never thought I would do this again,” said Williams. “I had never thought I’d come back… Honestly, I’m still not even sure, but we’ll see. I thought, it’s not every day Wimbledon holds a wild card for someone. People live to be an athlete. I have this great opportunity to showcase what I do best. That is pretty cool, so I should do it.” Williams is also due to play in the ladies doubles alongside her sister, Venus, either on Thursday or Friday.

Serena isn’t the only champion making a return to the grass courts this year. Reigning champions Iga Świątek and Jannik Sinner are both defending their Wimbledon titles for the first time. Sinner is set to face Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanović on Centre Court today, while Świątek will make her return against the US’s Taylor Townsend on Tuesday.

While Andy Murray hung up his racket for the last time in a doubles game with his brother Jamie in 2024, he’s also making a return to his home Grand Slam – this time off the court as part of the team of fellow former British No 1 Jack Draper. The 24-year-old is set to face the US’s Taylor Fritz on Centre Court on Tuesday.

While Raducanu may no longer form part of the line-up, there are still plenty more British players looking to make their mark in this year’s tournament. Here are the ones to look out for in the women’s singles this week:

This year’s total prize money stands at a hefty £64.2 million, which is a 20% rise from last year and the largest-ever year-on-year increase.

The men’s and women’s singles champions sit equally at £3.6m, while the runners-up will receive £1.8m. For those who don’t make it through the first round, they’ll take home £80,000, which is a 21% increase compared with last year.

As well as the prize money, there are some tech-related changes on the court this year. For the first time, players will be able to challenge certain calls like ‘not-up’, ‘foul shot’ or ‘touch’ made by the chair umpire on six courts. Meanwhile, visual indicators for electronic line calling will be introduced on the scoreboards of all courts for all matches showing ‘out’ and ‘fault’ calls. This is to aid the spectator experience, making it easier to follow when ‘out’ and ‘fault’ calls have been made.

You can watch Wimbledon 2026 live on BBC One and BBC Two from Monday 29 June 2026 until Sunday 12 July 2026.