Australian Open sets attendance benchmark among Grand Slams

The Australian Open has become the world’s most attended Grand Slam after a sustained expansion of event days, operating hours and public access at Melbourne Park, according to attendance and broadcast figures from the past three tournaments.

Total attendance increased from 839,192 in 2023 to more than 1.2 million by 2025, overtaking other Grand Slams that remain constrained by fixed capacities or ballot-based ticketing systems.

In 2026, daily crowds at Melbourne Park frequently exceeded 100,000, driven by long‑term investment in increasing the precinct’s safe capacity, the creation of multi‑zones catering to different demographics, a wide range of activations and entertainment, and day and night sessions that run late into the evening.

BDO's Project & Infrastructure Advisory Partner, Katie McNamara, said the scale of attendance was the result of structural changes to how the event is delivered, rather than short-term demand spikes.

“What we are seeing is that attendance growth has been enabled by structural change - expanding the footprint of the event, extending the length of the event both in hours per day and increasing the number of days,” Katie said.

“It’s not about crowding more people into the same fixed space, but about designing the event to support long-term growth.

“That’s a fundamentally different approach to major event planning.”

The expansion has been enabled by the Victorian Government’s nearly $1 billion redevelopment of Melbourne Park, which has increased venue capacity and flexibility.

Katie said the investment had shifted the tournament from a two-week peak event to a longer operating model that spreads demand and reduces pressure on headline sessions.

“Extending the event window and programming earlier and later sessions creates additional attendance without compromising experience,” she said.

The approach has also altered audience composition. Night sessions, ground passes and non-match programming have increased participation from local residents and short-stay visitors, particularly outside traditional daytime play.

There has been a focus on attracting a broad mix of fans - traditional tennis fans, but also families with children, office workers and those seeking a more premium hospitality experience.

“You’re no longer relying solely on full-day ticket holders,” Katie said.

“You’re capturing after-work attendance, casual visitation and repeat visits across multiple days.”

Broadcast and digital audiences have grown alongside on-site attendance.

In 2025, the tournament reached more than 13 million Australians and generated almost 90 million hours of domestic viewing, with international markets including Italy, Germany and Spain recording significant increases in audience numbers.

China is a significant broadcast audience, with 40 per cent of the AO’s total global broadcast and social media audience coming from China.

Katie said the Australian Open provides a useful reference point for governments assessing the return on large-scale event infrastructure.

“The key lesson is that utilisation matters,” she said.

“Major event assets that can operate for longer, attract broader and new audiences and support multiple entry points are more resilient and deliver more consistent value over time.”
 

---

For media enquiries:

Tate Papworth 
Manager, Media 
E: Tate.Papworth@bdo.com.au 
Ph: 0433411189