An Opening Ceremony is the new addition to the 2026 Australian Open.
Since 2023, the tournament organisers have made significant changes to its format.
Firstly, the tournament was extended by Welcome Week (now called Opening Week) where the qualifying tournament is surrounded by extra tennis and non-tennis entertainment.
Then in 2024, the Australian Open main draw tournament gained an extra day. When Sunday became the new first Monday, over 877,000 people passed through the turnstiles.
Now, an Opening Ceremony at Rod Laver Arena will take place the night before Day 1.
The popular New Zealand/Australian band Crowded House was today announced at the headline musical act for the event.
Of course, tennis will feature too.
On 12 December, Roger Federer posted a slightly cryptic video on his social media. “Hey, Everyone, I’ve been thinking it’s really cold here in Switzerland. I need to make a trip again and head back down under.” Check the comments and he adds: “The Happy Slam ❤️ See you soon, Australia 👋🏼 🇦🇺”.
Since 2022 when Federer retired from the tour, Tournament Director Craig Tiley has tried to entice him back to Melbourne Park to celebrate his record 21 appearances and six winner’s trophies at the Australian Open. But Federer’s family winter holidays had priority.
Next year, he will make time to return to the scene of his 2018 victory over Marin Cilic, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. It was to be the last of his 20 Grand Slam titles.
Federer will be joined by three other former World No. 1 players – Andre Agassi, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt – for exhibition doubles.
Agassi won eight grand slam tournaments. He began with Wimbledon, surprising many pundits who believed Agassi’s baseline game was not suited to grass. He finished his career having won all four Slams.
Half of his Slams came at the Australian Open, including his last one in 2003. He retired three years later.
Rafter won the US Open in 1997. After John McEnroe called him a “one slam wonder”, Rafter won in New York again the following year.
Although he retired from tennis in 2003 after struggling with injuries and motivation, he now plays padel for Australia’s national team.
Having transitioned from tennis to another racquet sport he says, “padel has captured my imagination like nothing else has before”.
Rafter’s Davis Cup teammate Lleyton Hewitt also won two Slams. At the age of 20, he won the US Open. And he won at Wimbledon, as Rafter, who was twice runner-up, had dreamed of doing.
Hewitt retired in 2016, and these days he captains the Australian Davis Cup team and keeps a keen eye on son Cruz’s budding career. The Hewitts recently combined to win a doubles match at the NSW Open Challenger tournament.
The Australian Open’s Opening Ceremony doubles will no doubt include the usual seniors’ exhibition “hit and giggle” element but hopefully, each of the players will take the opportunity to demonstrate the remarkable skills and flair that led them to reach No. 1 in the world.
Title photo montage of Roger Federer in 2018 and Neil Finn in 2025 by Tennis Australia