Singapore is getting a much bigger tennis week this year. After returning to the WTA Tour in 2025, the Singapore Tennis Open has been upgraded from WTA 250 to WTA 500 status for 2026, moved into the larger OCBC Arena and positioned at the start of the WTA Asian Swing. For visitors, the most useful detail may be the simplest one: you can sample the event without buying a main-draw ticket because qualifying on the weekend before the tournament is free.
The current field is also considerably stronger than a typical small-tour stop. The WTA’s live tournament page lists players including Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Alexandra Eala, Daria Kasatkina, Elise Mertens and Barbora Krejcikova among the entrants. The list remains subject to change until the draw is published, so do not plan a trip around one player without rechecking the official player list.
01 · Why the 2026 tournament is a bigger deal
The Singapore Tennis Open came back to the WTA calendar in 2025 and has already stepped up a level. WTA 500 status means more ranking points, a larger prize pool and, in practical terms, a stronger incentive for leading players to include Singapore in their late-season schedule. The WTA lists a total financial commitment of US$1,206,446, with a 28-player singles draw and 16-team doubles draw on indoor hard courts.
The Kallang describes the tournament as Southeast Asia’s only WTA 500 event in 2026. That makes this more than a local sports weekend: it is part of the Asian Swing at a point in the season when players are still chasing ranking points and positions in the Race to the WTA Finals. The upgraded event is also being staged at OCBC Arena rather than a smaller court setup, giving organisers more capacity for spectators.
02 · Free qualifying on 19–20 September
If you are curious about professional tennis but do not want to commit to a paid session, the qualifying weekend is the obvious entry point. The Kallang says admission on 19 and 20 September is free, with seats available on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to venue capacity.
The current event guide lists Saturday 19 September from 11am and Sunday 20 September from 12pm. Qualifying can be a good-value way to watch players fighting for a place in the main draw, but “free” should not be read as “guaranteed entry”. Arrive early, especially if a popular player is scheduled, and check the official event page before leaving because match times and player assignments can change.
03 · Main-draw schedule: 21–27 September
For Centre Court, the published event times are split into daytime and evening sessions for much of the week. From 21 to 25 September, Session 1 is scheduled from 11am and Session 2 from 6:30pm. On Saturday 26 September, the published Centre Court sessions begin at 12:30pm and 6pm. The Sunday 27 September session is listed from 2:30pm.
Court 1 currently has published starts of 2pm on 21 September, noon on 22 September, and 3pm on 23 and 24 September. These are event times, not promises that a particular player will appear at that hour. The order of play is normally the document that tells you who is on which court, and the WTA page currently says the 2026 order of play is not yet available. If you are targeting one star, wait for the official order of play rather than guessing from the entry list.
The venue says doors open one hour before the event time. Build that into your plan: security screening plus a high-volume crowd can eat into the time you thought you had for food, toilets or finding your seat.
04 · Who is expected to play
The official WTA player list currently includes a deep group of recognisable names. The Kallang’s published field is headed by Jessica Pegula, with Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova among the prominent top-ranked entrants. Alexandra Eala gives the event particular regional interest, while the list also includes players such as Elise Mertens, Barbora Krejcikova, Sorana Cirstea, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Daria Kasatkina, Maria Sakkari, Janice Tjen, Wang Xinyu and Donna Vekic.
That list is useful for judging the strength of the event, but it is not a guarantee of appearance. Tennis entry lists change because of injury, scheduling, ranking movement and late withdrawals. The WTA explicitly marks the player list as subject to change until the draw is published. For travellers, the sensible sequence is: choose a day or session that works for your itinerary, then use the official draw and daily order of play closer to the date to see exactly who you are likely to watch.
05 · Tickets, concessions and the official seller
Main-draw admission is ticketed from 21 to 27 September. The Kallang lists several formats: individual session tickets, single-day passes and a seven-day pass, plus premium ACES Club hospitality. Availability can change quickly, so the live ticket page is more reliable than any static price table copied into a travel guide.
SISTIC is the official ticketing agent. The organiser advises patrons to buy through the official platform rather than unauthorised sellers. A purchase limit of 12 applies. The Kallang also lists a 50% concession discount for people aged 18 and below, full-time National Servicemen, seniors aged 60 and above and persons with disabilities; the discount does not apply to ACES Club or passes.
Booking fees are additional. The published fee scale runs from S$2 for tickets under S$20 up to S$6 for tickets priced above S$70.01. If you are comparing options, compare the final checkout total rather than just the face value.
06 · Getting to OCBC Arena
The organiser expects high visitor volumes and explicitly recommends public transport and early arrival. The easiest rail option for most people is Stadium MRT (CC6) on the Circle Line, which The Kallang describes as the nearest station with direct access to the precinct. Other useful approaches include Mountbatten MRT (CC7), Kallang MRT (EW10) and Tanjong Rhu MRT (TE23), although each involves a walk.
If you are using a taxi or private-hire vehicle, The Kallang lists taxi stands at Stadium Crescent by Singapore Indoor Stadium, Stadium Boulevard by OCBC Arena, and Stadium Place by OCBC Aquatic Centre/Kallang Wave Mall. Event-day traffic can build quickly, so the MRT is usually the lower-friction option when a large crowd is leaving at once.
For visitors staying in central Singapore, the simplest planning rule is to navigate to Stadium MRT rather than relying on a car all the way to the arena. Add buffer time after matches too: evening sessions can finish when thousands of spectators are moving through the same station and precinct exits.
07 · Security, bags, food and arena rules
Bring the full printed or electronic ticket for ticketed sessions and expect security checks at designated checkpoints. The event guide says patrons should arrive early because screening is part of entry.
Outside food and drinks are not permitted, nor are glassware or glass bottles. Bags larger than 55cm × 40cm × 20cm — roughly regular cabin-luggage size — are prohibited, so this is not an event to attend directly from the airport with a roller suitcase. Noise makers such as air horns and whistles are also barred. The event page carries additional rules for flags, placards and banners; if you plan to bring fan signage, check those restrictions before you arrive.
Because it is an indoor arena event, the practical comfort plan is different from Singapore’s outdoor sports events: you do not need to prepare for tropical sun on court, but you do need to plan around security, air-conditioning and limited ability to bring your own food or drink inside.
08 · Free Fan Zone and extra tennis around The Kallang
The tournament is not confined to your seat. The Kallang has announced a free public Fan Zone at Arena Park with selected match screenings, food and beverage options, interactive activities and merchandise. That gives non-ticket holders another way to feel part of the tournament atmosphere, although programme details can change and should be checked closer to your visit.
There is also more tennis nearby during the week. The Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup 2026 is scheduled for 23–26 September at Kallang Tennis Hub, bringing together regional national players. The Kallang has described that event as free on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are building a tennis-heavy afternoon, check both schedules rather than assuming the sessions line up perfectly.
09 · The smartest visitor plan
For a casual visitor, free qualifying is the easiest recommendation: arrive before the stated start, use Stadium MRT, and accept that capacity is not guaranteed. For someone who mainly wants to see a particular star, buying the most convenient session before the draw is published carries some uncertainty. A later purchase after the order of play appears gives more certainty but may mean fewer ticket choices.
If you want a full day, pair tennis with the wider Kallang precinct rather than racing across Singapore between sessions. If you choose an evening session, eat before entry or plan around the venue’s food options because outside food and drink are restricted. And if you are coming straight from Changi Airport, leave large luggage at your hotel or another suitable storage point before heading to OCBC Arena.
Most importantly, recheck the official event page in the final 24 hours. Player fields, match order and event timings are all changeable. The dates and venue are firm enough to plan around; the exact player you see is not.
10 · Sources & verification
This guide was checked on 13 September 2026 against the current tournament pages from the WTA and The Kallang. We used the live organiser event guide for dates, qualifying access, session times, entry rules, ticketing guidance and venue access; the WTA tournament page for event level, draw size, surface, financial commitment and the current player list. Where a detail can change — especially players, match assignments and timing — we have labelled it as provisional rather than presenting it as fixed.
- WTA — Singapore Tennis Open 2026 tournament overview
- WTA — current 2026 player list
- The Kallang — event guide, tickets, timings and entry rules
- The Kallang — public transport and venue access
- The Kallang — WTA 500 field and free qualifying announcement
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