How to Watch THE US OPEN 2026 in the US and UK

We do this four times a year, people, and unfortunately it changes every year. So let me make this simple.

The short version: If you're in the US, get ESPN Unlimited. If you're in the UK, get Sky Sports or Now.

Now here's the longer version, because the tier you pick actually matters.

Watching in the US

ESPN is the sole distributor of US Open coverage in the States. They also hold the Australian Open and Wimbledon, so once you sort this out you're mostly set for the year.

ESPN has different tiers depending on how much control you want over what you're watching. So ask yourself one question: do you want control or not?

Let's go from least control to most.

Traditional cable Matches air on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. You don't pick the matches. You watch what's on at the time. And if something gets bumped for football, that's just how your day is going now. Least control.

ESPN Select For the people who have snipped the cord. A good majority of matches are available to stream whenever and however you want, plus some on demand. But it's all in the name. SELECT. Not all. SELECT.

ESPN Unlimited All the matches, whenever you want, however you want, on demand, with commentary or without it. All the control. Again, it's in the name. UNLIMITED.

I know Unlimited costs more than Select. I know you used to be able to watch everything on Select and now you can't. I get all of that. But this is the way they've gone, and if you just get Unlimited you'll be a happy camper for the next two weeks.

Free bonus: US Open Radio. Available through the tournament's app and website, live coverage of the whole thing, completely free.

Watching in the UK

The UK has this down pat, and honestly we're a little jealous over here.

Sky Sports or Now You can watch on Sky Sports with a Sky Sports subscription, or through Now (you might still call it Now TV), which is a bit cheaper and gives you the live stream.

Sky Sports Tennis Sky has a dedicated tennis channel that runs tennis or tennis highlights all day, and that's where most of the US Open coverage lives.

Sky Sports+ and Choose Your Own Court This is the good stuff. You can pick a single court and sit with that feed all day. Top tip: the court feeds don't have commercials. The trade-off is that some of them don't have commentary either, so if you just want the atmosphere and the sound of the grounds, that's your move.

One catch with Now You don't get the same benefit of watching matches back. They're working on it, but replays go up very delayed. If watching matches after the fact matters to you, go with Sky.

The bottom line

US: ESPN Unlimited. PERIODT!

UK: Sky Sports if you want everything, Now if you want cheaper and you're watching live anyway.

The full US Open Guide is live, with ticket tips, food, where to hang out, and everything I've learned attending this tournament for over ten years. It's a living guide, so if there's something you want to know that I didn't cover, tell me and I'll add it.

Draws and order of play are linked below.