The world's eight best women in tennis over the past twelve months have descended on Indian Wells, California, for the prestigious end-of-year championships. Often referred to as the unofficial fifth major, the tournament runs from Sunday, November 8 to Sunday, November 15, with daily action kicking off at 3pm ET, 12pm PT, 8pm GMT, and 7am AEDT the following day. The competition splits players into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing directly to the semi-finals.
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina enters the California courts as the defending champion and heavy favorite. The 27-year-old Kazakh player has enjoyed a standout year, claiming more titles and reaching more finals than any other competitor on tour. Furthermore, Rybakina arrives as the reigning Australian and US Open champion after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in both major finals. Sabalenka, who previously won at Indian Wells back in March and lost her top-ranking spot to Rybakina, aims to secure some measure of revenge in the desert. The field also features French Open winner Mirra Andreeva, Wimbledon finalist Linda Noskova, Karolina Muchova, American duo Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, and 2018 champion Elina Svitolina.
Key takeaways
- Elena Rybakina enters the WTA Finals 2026 as the defending champion and world No. 1 seed.
- The tournament takes place at Indian Wells, California, running from November 8 to November 15.
- Free trials for US viewers are available via YouTube TV and Fubo through the Tennis Channel.
- Australians can access a 7-day free trial through beIN Sports to follow the matches.
Broadcasters and free streaming options
Fans located in the United States and Australia have access to free trial options to live stream the tournament. In the US, the Tennis Channel serves as the exclusive home for the WTA Finals 2026. Viewers can access the channel directly or utilize over-the-top streaming providers offering trial periods, such as YouTube TV with its 21-day free trial or Fubo with a 5-day trial. The Tennis Channel is also accessible on Sling TV via its Sport Extra add-on, with standard channel subscriptions priced at $11.99 per month or $109.99 annually.
Australian tennis enthusiasts can secure a 7-day free trial through beIN Sports, which holds exclusive tournament rights in the region. Following the trial, subscriptions cost AU$16.99 per month or AU$169 for an annual upfront payment. Alternatively, Australian fans can access the matches on Stan Sport by purchasing an add-on for AU$20 on top of a basic AU$12 subscription. Meanwhile, UK viewers can tune in via Sky Sports channels or purchase a NOW Sports 24-hour pass for £14.99. Canadian fans can watch through TSN Plus for CA$24.99 a month, and New Zealand viewers rely on DAZN subscriptions starting at $14.99 per month.
Tournament schedule and regional access
Opening day action on Sunday, November 8, starts with Group 1 matches featuring Elena Rybakina facing Linda Noskova, followed immediately by a clash between American pair Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. Traveling fans who find themselves outside their home country can utilize virtual private network services like NordVPN to bypass geo-blocks and access their regular domestic streaming subscriptions. Viewers in the Middle East and Africa can access coverage through DAZN, beIN Sport, New World Sport, and SuperSport, while Youku and UNEXT cover China and Japan respectively.
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