2 days ago
5
ARTICLE AD BOX
All you need to know about Indian Wells 2026.Image via: Getty
The desert swing is here again, and tennis fans know what that means. Indian Wells is back on the calendar, and suddenly the season feels real. The early months are no longer about easing into form.
This is where statements are made. The sunshine, the palm trees, the packed stands and the buzz around the grounds give it a special energy that players and fans both talk about all year.Indian Wells 2026 is not just another tournament squeezed into a busy schedule. It is the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the season and one of the biggest WTA 1000 stops of the year. When the tour arrives at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden near Palm Springs, the stakes instantly rise.
Social media lights up, celebrities appear courtside and every match feels a little bigger. It is the kind of event where a strong run can change the mood of a season.
Everything you need to know about Indian Wells 2026
The tournament runs from Wednesday, March 4, to Sunday, March 15. Over those 12 days, the world’s best players will chase vital ranking points and compete for a share of the US$9.42 million prize pool. With so much on the line and so many storylines already building, Indian Wells once again feels like the moment the tennis year truly kicks into gear.
This year’s tournament runs from Wednesday, March 4, to Sunday, March 15.
Across nearly two weeks, the world’s top players will compete for crucial ranking points and a share of the US$9.42 million prize pool. With so much at stake so early in the season, Indian Wells once again feels like a defining stop on the road ahead.This year’s tournament has several key storylines. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner remain the top names on the ATP Tour, while Novak Djokovic adds experience and star power. In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek lead a strong field.Here is the full schedule for both tours:
| Dates | Matches |
| March 4-5 | First round |
| March 6-7 | Second round |
| March 8-9 | Third round |
| March 10-11 | Fourth round |
| March 12 | Quarterfinals |
| March 13 | Women’s semifinals |
| March 14 | Men’s semifinals |
| March 15 | Men’s and women’s finals |
In the United States, fans can watch Indian Wells 2026 live on Tennis Channel, which will broadcast matches throughout the tournament.
| Seeds | Men’s | Women’s |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | Aryna Sabalenka |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | Iga Swiatek |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | Elena Rybakina |
| 4 | Alexander Zverev | Coco Gauff |
| 5 | Lorenzo Musetti | Jessica Pegula |
| 6 | Alex de Minaur | Amanda Anisimova |
| 7 | Taylor Fritz | Jasmine Paolini |
| 8 | Ben Shelton | Mirra Andreeva |
Prize money and ranking points are significant:
| Round | Prize Money (USD) | ATP | WTA |
| Champion | $1.15 million | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Final | $612,340 | 650 | 650 |
| Semifinal | $340,190 | 400 | 390 |
| Quarterfinal | $193,645 | 200 | 215 |
| Fourth round | $105,720 | 100 | 120 |
| Third round | $61,865 | 50 | 65 |
| Second round | $36,110 | 30 | 35 |
| First round | $24,335 | 10 | 10 |
Last year’s champions set the tone. Jack Draper defeated Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in the men’s final, while Mirra Andreeva fought back to beat Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the women’s title clash.
English (US) ·