US Open Tennis 2026: Spain TV, Start Time, Schedule, Live Stream
For US Open Tennis 2026 Spain has one home, and it is Movistar Plus+. Telefónica has held the exclusive Spanish rights since 2023, so there is no free to air channel and no separate Eurosport or DAZN feed. Spanish comparison sites that still send you to Eurosport 1 are three years out of date.
The 146th edition runs from Sunday 30 August to Sunday 13 September, with Fan Week from 23 to 29 August. Spain sits six hours ahead of New York, which gives Spanish fans the best window of any major market: afternoon tennis and prime time finals.
Below are the CEST start times, the full round by round schedule, what Movistar Plus+ costs and which Spaniards are in the draw.
US Open Tennis 2026 Spain TV Coverage
Movistar Plus+ carries the tournament on its own channels and in its streaming app. How much you see depends on the route you take:
- Plan Libre: Cine, Series y Deportes. The streaming only subscription, 9,99 € a month with no minimum term. Movistar’s own wording for all four Grand Slams is “cada día el mejor partido, incluida la final”, so you get the pick of each day plus both singles finals, not every court.
- miMovistar TV packages. Telefónica fibre and satellite customers get the full multi court coverage across Movistar Plus+ (dial 7) and the M+ Vamos channels, so outside court matches and doubles are covered too. The US Open 2026 programme cards on movistarplus.es are tagged “Incluido en el pack: miMovistar”.
- Not on Eurosport, DAZN or RTVE. Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2 and Teledeporte sit inside the Movistar tennis package as channels, but the US Open is not shown on any of them. Eurosport lost the tournament ahead of the 2023 edition and now covers the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the WTA tour instead.
Commentary is in Spanish under the #LaPistaDelTenis banner, with studio analysis between sessions. The M+ app runs on smart TVs, Fire TV, Chromecast, phones, tablets and browsers, and the subscription includes two simultaneous streams.
US Open Tennis 2026 Spain Schedule and Start Times
New York runs on Eastern Time. Peninsular Spain is six hours ahead through the tournament, so add six hours to any US start time. In the Canary Islands add five.
Three session windows matter:
- 17:00 CEST, outside courts, Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium (11:00 ET).
- 17:30 CEST, Arthur Ashe Stadium day session (11:30 ET). Opening Sunday 30 August is the exception at 18:00 CEST.
- 01:00 CEST, Arthur Ashe Stadium night session (19:00 ET). This is the marquee slot, and in Spain it falls in the early hours of the following morning.
| Date (Spain) | Round | Play Starts (CEST) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 24 to Thu 27 Aug | Qualifying and Mixed Doubles | 17:00 (16:00 on Tue 25) |
| Sun 30 Aug | First Round, opening day | 17:00, Ashe 18:00 |
| Mon 31 Aug to Tue 1 Sep | First Round | 17:00, Ashe 17:30 |
| Wed 2 to Thu 3 Sep | Second Round | 17:00, Ashe 17:30 |
| Fri 4 to Sat 5 Sep | Third Round | 17:00, Ashe 17:30 |
| Sun 6 to Mon 7 Sep | Round of 16 | 17:00, Ashe 17:30 |
| Tue 8 to Wed 9 Sep | Quarterfinals | 17:30 and 01:00 |
| Fri 11 Sep | Women’s Semifinals | 01:00 |
| Fri 11 Sep | Men’s Semifinals | 21:00 and 01:00 |
| Sat 12 Sep | Women’s Singles Final | 22:00 |
| Sun 13 Sep | Men’s Singles Final | 20:00 |
Friday 11 September is the big one in Spanish time. The women’s semifinals land at 01:00, the first men’s semifinal at 21:00 and the second at 01:00 on Saturday morning. The first round is spread over three days this year rather than two, part of a 22 day event that is the longest in the tournament’s history.
Only the first match of each session has a fixed start. Rain and long five setters push everything back, and the Wednesday 9 September night session starts half an hour later at 01:30. Check the order of play the night before on usopen.org, or use our full US Open 2026 schedule and live scores page.
How to Live Stream the US Open in Spain
Sign up at contratar.movistarplus.es with an email and a card, download the M+ app, then open the Deportes section. Activation is immediate and you do not need Movistar internet or a Movistar phone line.
Movistar Plus+ pricing, checked 21 August 2026:
| Plan | Price | US Open coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Libre: Cine, Series y Deportes | 9,99 € a month, no minimum term | Best match daily plus both finals |
| Plan Anual | 99,90 € a year, 12 months for the price of 10 | Same as Plan Libre |
| Bono Cultural Joven | 39 € for 12 months | Same, must be paid with the Bono card |
| miMovistar TV packs | Varies by bundle | Full multi court coverage |
For a two week tournament, one month of Plan Libre is the cheapest legal way in and you can cancel before the next billing date. Movistar has also been running a promotion that halves the sports plan to 4,99 € a month for the first three months for new subscribers, so check the plans page before you pay full price. The plan also carries Wimbledon, the Davis Cup and the Masters 1000 events, so it earns its keep beyond New York.
Can You Watch the US Open Free in Spain?
Not live. The rights are exclusive to Movistar Plus+, there is no free to air simulcast on RTVE, Teledeporte or any autonomic channel, and Movistar does not offer a free trial on the sports plan.
What is genuinely free:
- Planeta Tenis and other sports magazine shows on Movistar’s Plan Gratuito, which needs only an email to register. It carries no live matches, but it does carry the analysis.
- Official highlights on the US Open YouTube channel, usually posted within hours of a match finishing.
- Point by point scoring and court cams in the official US Open app, plus match reports on Marca, AS and RTVE Deportes.
Skip pirate streams. They drop out mid rally, carry malware risk and offer no replay. Options for other countries are in our US Open live stream guide.
Spanish Players to Watch at Flushing Meadows
Carlos Alcaraz is the story. The defending champion confirmed on 20 August that he will play, ending 138 days out with the right wrist tenosynovitis he suffered at the Conde de Godó in April. That absence cost him Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati, and he arrives in New York without a single warm up match. He is back to world No. 2 behind Jannik Sinner, though the entry list was frozen when Alexander Zverev was ahead of him, so expect the No. 3 seed.
Rafa Jódar is the other name to know. The 19 year old from Madrid has climbed to a career high No. 11 in his first full professional season. He won the ATP 250 in Marrakech in April, reached the semifinals in Barcelona, beat then No. 8 Alex de Minaur in Madrid and made the round of 16 in Cincinnati.
Spain has five men inside the ATP top 50 for the first time since June 2023: Alcaraz, Jódar, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (No. 27), Dani Mérida (No. 40) and Jaume Munar (No. 46). Davidovich has withdrawn with a back injury and is replaced by Alexei Popyrin, so four of the five will play.
Five Spanish women are in the main draw: Cristina Bucsa (No. 38), Paula Badosa (No. 84), Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro (No. 90), Oksana Selekhmeteva (No. 99) and Kaitlin Quevedo (No. 110). Badosa is fit and playing this year, despite older reports that describe her 2025 withdrawal.
Aryna Sabalenka defends the women’s title and is chasing a third straight New York crown. Prize money hits a record 108 million dollars, up 20 percent on 2025, with 5,5 million to each singles champion and 140.000 dollars for a first round loss. Full detail on our 2026 players page and prize money breakdown.
Fan Week is Worth Staying Up For
Three things stand out before the main draw begins:
- Singles qualifying, Monday 24 to Thursday 27 August from 17:00 CEST, with Tuesday starting an hour earlier at 16:00. Free to attend in New York and the best place to find Spanish names outside the main draw. See our qualifying guide.
- Roger Federer exhibition, Wednesday 26 August at 01:30 CEST. Billed as “An Icon Returns to New York”, his first Arthur Ashe Stadium appearance since 2019, with Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.
- Mixed Doubles Championship finals night, Thursday 27 August from 01:00 CEST. Sixteen teams, a one million dollar winner’s cheque, and Sabalenka partnering Novak Djokovic. Qualifying is on Monday 24 August, the first round and quarterfinals on Tuesday 25.
More on the eight free admission days and the Fan Access Pass in our Fan Week guide.
Travelling Outside Spain During the Tournament?
Movistar Plus+ terms confirm access across the whole European Economic Area, so a temporary trip to Lisbon, Rome or Oslo works with no VPN and no surcharge under EU portability rules. In practice this is most reliable on the phone, tablet and browser apps rather than a smart TV app abroad.
Outside the EEA the app geoblocks you. A VPN restores access by connecting you to a Spanish server before you open it. ExpressVPN is a reliable pick. You still need an active subscription, so this is for existing subscribers who travel, not a way around paying.
Tips for Watching from Spain
- The 17:00 slot is the sweet spot. Late afternoon in Spain is early play in New York, so you catch a full first round day without losing sleep.
- Use replays for the 01:00 night session. Matches stay on demand in the M+ app, so watch over breakfast instead.
- Both finals are prime time. 22:00 on Saturday and 20:00 on Sunday, no alarm needed.
- Set up the app early. Sorting a login at 19:55 before the men’s final is not how you want to spend it.
US Open Tennis 2026 Spain FAQs
What channel is the US Open on in Spain?
Movistar Plus+. Telefónica holds the exclusive Spanish rights, so the tournament airs on Movistar Plus+ (dial 7) and the M+ Vamos channels, and in the M+ streaming app. No free to air channel carries it.
Can I watch the US Open on Eurosport or DAZN in Spain?
No. Eurosport lost the Spanish rights ahead of the 2023 edition and now shows the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the WTA tour. Eurosport 1 and 2 are included inside Movistar packages and on DAZN, but neither carries the US Open.
What time does the US Open start in Spain?
Play begins at 17:00 CEST on the outside courts, 17:30 CEST on Arthur Ashe Stadium, and the New York night session starts at 01:00 CEST the following morning. Spain is six hours ahead of New York, five in the Canary Islands.
When are the 2026 US Open finals in Spanish time?
The women’s singles final is Saturday 12 September at 22:00 CEST. The men’s singles final is Sunday 13 September at 20:00 CEST. Both are prime time in Spain.
How much does Movistar Plus+ cost?
The Plan Libre: Cine, Series y Deportes is 9,99 € a month with no minimum term, or 99,90 € for a year. It includes the best US Open match every day plus both singles finals, and works without a Movistar internet or phone line.
Is there a free way to watch the US Open in Spain?
Not live. There is no free to air broadcast and no free trial on the sports plan. Movistar’s Plan Gratuito carries tennis programmes such as Planeta Tenis but no live matches, and free highlights are posted on the official US Open YouTube channel.
Does Movistar Plus+ show every US Open match?
Not on the streaming plan. Plan Libre shows the pick of each day, including both finals. Telefónica TV customers with the miMovistar packages get the full multi court coverage across the M+ channels.
Which Spanish players are at the 2026 US Open?
Carlos Alcaraz defends his title after 138 days out with a wrist injury, alongside Rafa Jódar (No. 11), Dani Mérida (No. 40) and Jaume Munar (No. 46). Alejandro Davidovich Fokina withdrew with a back injury. Cristina Bucsa, Paula Badosa, Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro, Oksana Selekhmeteva and Kaitlin Quevedo are in the women’s draw.
Watching US Open Tennis 2026 Spain fans need one subscription and one plan: Movistar Plus+ from 9,99 € a month, play from 17:00 CEST, the New York night session at 01:00, the women’s final at 22:00 on Saturday 12 September and the men’s final at 20:00 on Sunday 13 September.
Set the reminders, lean on replays for the late sessions, and you will not miss a point of Alcaraz defending his title.
Last checked 21 August 2026 against the official US Open session schedule on usopen.org, USTA Fan Week releases, the ATP and WTA rankings, and Movistar Plus+ plan pages.
