Enjoy world-class tennis with your guide to Wimbledon 2026 on Virgin TV

“Quiet please, ladies and gentlemen. Players are ready.”

Players are ready, indeed! Yes, it’s Wimbledon time, that magical annual fortnight when the TV schedules are taken over by images of super-fit athletes bashing yellow balls at each other on the green, green grass courts of London SW19.

It’s a well-established and much-admired institution both here in Britain and around the world. The world loves it because it’s an extraordinary festival of high-class sport in the finest tradition. We love it because it’s quintessentially British: everyone’s smartly dressed, the home players underachieve (usually) and it gives us an excuse to talk about the weather endlessly. Plus strawberries!

The action from the main courts will be live on BBC One HD (CH 101) and BBC Two HD (CH 102), and don’t forget that every game from every court will be available to stream live in Apps > BBC iPlayer, giving you a comprehensive choice of what to watch. And you can follow all the live action wherever you are in the UK, as long as there’s WiFi, 3G or 4G, thanks to Virgin TV Go. Simply download the free app, which is free to all Virgin TV customers and is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows 10 and PC/Mac. Download the Virgin TV Go app.

The women’s singles event has been impossible to predict in recent years, throwing up unexpected winners such as Barbora Krejčíková, who was seeded 31 when she triumphed in 2024 and has never got past the fourth round otherwise. Last year serial major winner Iga Świątek claimed the famous rosewater dish, but only after most of the top seeds were knocked out in the first week, and there was an odd anti-climactic atmosphere in the final as the Polish star beat a subdued Amanda Anisimova (pictured) 6-0, 6-0.

Świątek, seeded third, will be among the leading contenders for 2026, as will Elena Rybakina. The Kazakh second seed proved herself adept on grass when she won Wimbledon in 2022, although her 2026 preparations took a hit when she lost at Queen’s to Britain’s Katie Boulter. The US contingent includes three top-six seeds in Anisimova, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff, but all have underachieved at Wimbledon. Anisimova in particular will be keen to make up for her showing in the most recent final.

It’ll be intriguing to watch the 44-year-old seven-time champ Serena Williams, who’s been given a wildcard entry to the singles as well as the doubles (where she’ll partner her 46-year-old sister Venus). And after falling in the semi-finals three times, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will be desperate to add Wimbledon to the four Grand Slam titles she’s already won. Could this be her year?

The absence of two-time champ Carlos Alcaraz, who’s yet to recover from a wrist injury he picked up in April, would seem to clear the way for Jannik Sinner, considering how the two have dominated men’s Grand Slam tournaments in recent years. But there’s a big “but”. Sinner looked seriously out of sorts when losing in the second round of the French Open to world number 56 Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, and the Italian is not playing any grass-court tournaments in the build-up to Wimbledon, focusing on training as he tried to overcome the illness that sapped his energy in Paris.

Alexander Zverev (pictured) was the immediate beneficiary, claiming the trophy at Roland-Garros, and the German will head for SW19 with form and confidence on his side. US star Taylor Fritz has won the Eastbourne Open on grass three times, and he’s getting closer at Wimbledon, reaching the quarter-finals in 2022 and 2024 and the semis last year. He lost the recent Stuttgart Open final to his compatriot Ben Shelton, who’s also a real contender.

Of course, you can never rule out Novak Djokovic. The 39-year-old may not be the force he once was, but as a seven-time Wimbledon singles winner he certainly knows his way around Centre Court. He’s still seeded third and, with Alcaraz missing and doubts around Sinner’s condition, the Serb could take advantage to claim his 25th career Grand Slam title.

The Queen’s Club Championships in early June brought unforeseen success for Britain’s women: Emma Raducanu (pictured) returned from yet another injury lay-off to reach the final, while Katie Boulter achieved arguably her best ever result by knocking out Rybakina in the quarter-finals. Both then withdrew from the Nottingham Open with a view to maintaining fitness for the start of Wimbledon. Raducanu, who has only just missed out on seeding, will be a danger to any top player she meets.

After his stellar 2025, Jack Draper has missed much of 2026 with injury; he has targeted Wimbledon for a comeback, but it may prove too soon. Cam Norrie, who has returned to the GB men’s number one spot, is in there swinging and will be aiming to reach the second week with the crowds on his side.

Better bets for British success lie outside the singles draws. Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid have won the wheelchair men’s doubles together six times, as well as claiming a singles title apiece, and they’ll be among the favourites for both this year. Henry Patten and Neal Skupski have also achieved doubles success in recent years, while Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool are the holders in men’s doubles.

TV coverage begins on Monday 29 June at 10.30am on BBC Two HD (CH 102) and in Apps > BBC iPlayer and continues every day from 11am on BBC One HD (CH 101), BBC Two HD (CH 102) and BBC iPlayer until the final day on Sunday 12 July. Here are the dates of the different competitions.

Women’s singles
Monday 29 June to Saturday 11 July

Men’s singles
Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July

Men’s doubles
Wednesday 1 to Saturday 11 July

Women’s doubles
Wednesday 1 to Sunday 12 July

Mixed doubles
Friday 3 to Thursday 9 July

Wheelchair events
Tuesday 7 to Sunday 12 July

Round-up show Today At Wimbledon will be available every evening in Apps > BBC iPlayer. Selected highlights are also on TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) daily from Tuesday 30 June. Matches from Centre Court are shown in vivid, pixel-perfect 4K ultra HD in BBC iPlayer for those with compatible TVs.