Australian Open marks the beginning of the tennis season, as the first Grand Slam of the year. This significant Grand Slam sees many of the top tennis players battling it out for the title in January. This month, fans are excited about the Australian Open live stream, with Đoković, Sinner, Sabalenka, and others on the court.
The live stream of the Australian Open 2026 is usually expensive. PPV options cost a fortune, and paid platforms charge up to $100 per month. The good news is, there’s a free channel for streaming the Australian Open 2026 live. It’s in English and in Full HD, broadcasting the entire Grand Slam at no cost or hidden fees.
If you don’t want to pay for pricey sports channels that won’t work in all countries, this trick is for you. Here’s how to stream the AO 2026 on a free channel, no matter your location.
How to Watch the Australian Open Online for Free? A Quick Tutorial for 2026
- Subscribe to a VPN. Pick NordVPN at 70% off and a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.
- Download and set up the VPN on your device.
- Launch the VPN app and sign in with your credentials.
- Connect to a server in Australia.
- Go to 9Now, a free channel for streaming the Australian Open live, and make a free account (you can sign up with your Gmail).
- Click the Australian Open live stream and watch in Full HD with English commentary.
- (Optional) Contact NordVPN after the Grand Slam to get a refund, thanks to a 30-day refund policy.
Which Channel Broadcasts the Australian Open 2026 Live?
If you go to the official Australian Open website and check out the broadcast partners, you’ll see plenty of channels. However, most are paid, and they’re expensive, as we’ll prove later. Also, many are non-English, such as certain Indian TV channels. Since you speak English, we found a really free channel that ticks this box.
By doing some research, we found that the Australian Open 2026 live stream can be found on the Australian channel 9Now. As explained above, this channel is free, but to watch its content, you need an account. Creating an account is also free, but the trick is that the channel is available in Australia only.
People outside of this country will get a geo-restriction message like this:
So, we’re back to zero. What can you do about this problem? You need to make the website believe you’re in Australia to be able to watch a live stream of the Australian Open (AO). It’s the only way to access this channel. To do this, the user must change their IP address to Australia with a VPN service.
This way, the channel recognizes you as an Australian resident. As a result, it lets you access the site, create an account, and watch anything, including AO 2026 live online. 9Now covers the entire tournament, from start to finish, and you can watch all matches, even the ones before the actual Grand Slam (qualifiers).
How to beat the geo-restriction, though? That’s explained below. Keep reading.
How to Watch Australian Open 2026 Online for Free
The only way to unblock 9Now is to alter your IP with a VPN. Wondering what a VPN is? It’s an application that encrypts your traffic and routes it through a VPN tunnel. It connects you to a remote server in another country, which assigns you an IP from that server. Do you see where this is going?
By connecting to a server in Australia, you get an Australian IP address. Not all VPNs will let you get an IP from Australia, as many don’t have servers in this country (mainly free VPNs). The trick is to find a quality provider that has and offers unlimited bandwidth and fast speeds for Full HD streaming.
A lot of people will watch the Australian Open live in 2026, so finding a stable provider is a must. We found NordVPN to be the most dependable, as it also allows you to watch Roland Garros for free online, the next Grand Slam. Let’s see how to use NordVPN to unblock and watch the Australian Open for free online.
1. Subscribe to a VPN
NordVPN isn’t free, but the good news is that you can get a special discount below. We’re talking about a 70% discount for its 2-year Basic plan. On top of that, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, so even the monthly plan is fully refundable.
This means you can watch the Australian Open livestream, enjoy the entire Grand Slam, and get a refund once you’re done. As a result, you’re watching AO 2026 live for free. If we do the math, the tournament lasts for about twenty days, so it’s well under 30 days. To start, use the button below and claim a discount.
From there, enter your email and proceed to the payment. With that out of the way, let’s move on to Step 2 of this tutorial on how to watch a free live stream of the Australian Open.
2. Download and Install the VPN App
NordVPN works on every device and supports ten simultaneous connections. Feel free to download and install it wherever. After that, launch its application and sign in with the email and password from Step 1.
3. Connect to a Server in Australia and Watch
It’s now time to connect to an Australian VPN server. Do this by clicking Australia on the server list, as displayed below. Within seconds, you’ll notice the Connected message and a new IP address (Australian IP).
You can now access 9Now and stream the Australian Open 2026 for free. As explained, you need an account, and you can sign up either via email or using Google, which takes a minute and works flawlessly.
Watch Australian Open With NordVPN
5. (Optional) Get a Refund
If you don’t want to use NordVPN, after watching the Australian Open live, you can always get a refund. This step is optional, as many users don’t get a refund and keep using the VPN to get more benefits. In particular, you can use this VPN to enjoy a free live stream of the US Open or even watch the MotoGP season live.
NordVPN can also unblock content on a wide range of streaming services. But, if this doesn’t interest you, all you need to do is contact the provider after the AO 2026 live stream is finished. The support agent will answer in a few seconds and tackle your need by submitting a refund request to the billing team.
Depending on the payment method you used, you’ll get a refund either the same day or in a few business days. That way, the Australian Open live stream is 100% free since you’ll get a full refund.
Best VPNs to Watch AO 2026 Live Online
Keeping in touch with the Australian Open on 9Now calls for a quality VPN service. We’re looking at providers with top-notch performance, no data and bandwidth limits, and apps for all devices. Our team picked the three most reliable services, so let us review them and see what they bring to the table.
8922 servers
129 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.8 /10
3000 servers
105 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
12000 servers
100 covered countries
45 days money-back guarantee
7 simultaneous connections
9.2 /10
1. NordVPN
NordVPN lets you stream AO 2026 for free, which sounds silly because it’s the best VPN by many merits. It has over 8,900 servers in 130 countries, with hundreds of high-bandwidth Australian servers. Its speed is also a byproduct of NordLynx, a proprietary protocol designed around WireGuard and its performance.
The provider focuses on security and privacy, but its streaming capabilities are impeccable. This provider can also unblock ChatGPT if you want, and people like using it for BBC iPlayer, Hotstar, and Netflix. On top of that, you get built-in SmartDNS that you can set up on any device that doesn’t natively support VPNs.
This allows you to unblock various TV channels and streaming services with no buffering. If you’re a beginner, you’ll like NordVPN’s sleek, easy-to-use apps. They offer various features, such as a Double VPN for privacy and Threat Protection Pro, which detects and blocks ads, trackers, and malware for ultimate security.
When talking about value for money, NordVPN is unbeatable. The Basic plan is more than sufficient for streaming the AO 2026 online for free. It’s down by 70% and costs about $3.00 per month. The Plus plan has advanced security features for other activities, and usually costs under $3.90 per month.
Either way, NordVN is inexpensive and makes watching the Australian Open live on a free channel a breeze.
Watch Australian Open With NordVPN
Pros
- Fast speed for Full HD streaming
- SmartDNS for broader compatibility
- Unlimited bandwidth and data
- Many Australian VPN servers
- Optimized for torrenting
- Compatible with all devices
Cons
- Rare connection issues
- Higher renewal cost
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers in 160 locations, many in Australia. This makes it perfect to stream the Australian Open live and unblock other Australian TV channels. Our ExpressVPN review also reaffirmed that it’s one of the fastest picks. It uses Lightway Turbo, a multi-tunnel protocol that significantly improves speeds.
It’s also streaming-friendly to the point of being almost the #1 VPN for this purpose. It works with Netflix as well, and users are happy with its P2P optimization. Australians love its 256-bit encryption and a kill switch, both of which protect your data and prevent leaks. ExpressVPN is also among the most audited VPNs.
It has a no-log policy and an advanced infrastructure audited by PwC, KPMG, Cure53, and other renowned companies. ExpressVPN’s apps also contain Advanced Protection, blocking ads, malicious sites, and trackers. One of its highlights is ease of use, as ExpressVPN’s apps are some of the most beginner-friendly.
It works on all devices, which enables you to watch the Australian Open online more easily. Price-wise, it’s close to NordVPN, with the biennial Basic plan with four free months at about $3.49 per month. Occasional discounts bring it down further, and there’s always a 30-day money-back guarantee for testing.
Watch Australian Open With ExpressVPN
Pros
- One of the fastest VPNs
- Consistent streaming performance
- Easy-to-use applications
- Built-in ad blocker
- Up to 14 simultaneous connections
Cons
- Light on advanced features
- Expensive high-tier Pro plan
3. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a perfect VPN that blocks ads and unblocks Channel 9 abroad, giving you full access to the Australian Open live stream. Over 200 servers in Australia are impressive, and many are optimized for streaming and unblocking TV channels. For instance, CyberGhost will work with SBS and TenPlay, as well.
The VPN has torrenting and gaming servers, but NoSpy servers steal the show. They’re based in Romania and owned by CyberGhost for improved privacy. Given its low price, it’s strange how it’s faster and more reliable than some pricier options, due to WireGuard and 10 Gbps server ports in every location.
Security is on point, with a kill switch, ad blocker, and WiFi protection. Even privacy is strong, with a no-log policy and a third-party audit, with CyberGhost’s voluntary transparency reports published a few times a year. Like the rest, it works on all devices and has SmartDNS but is limited to seven simultaneous connections.
On the brighter side, the biennial plan is discounted by over 80% and costs $2.03 or $2.19 per month, with two or four free months, depending on the promotion. You even have 45 days to test it risk-free and get a refund if needed. Try it below and enjoy the Australian Open live risk-free on 9Now.
Watch Australian Open With CyberGhost
Pros
- Australian servers for streaming
- Fast speed with WireGuard
- Automatic WiFi protection
- Affordable biennial plan
Cons
- No VPN obfuscation
- Occasional speed drops
Paid Channels for Streaming AO 2026 Live
Although we already presented a free channel for watching the Australian Open, we should quickly review some paid options. We do this to demonstrate that sports channels can be expensive and not for everybody’s budget. Unlike VPNs that… well, cost just a few measly dollars per month.
- beIN (Middle East) – Around $22 per month (depending on the country)
- ESPN (US) – at least $29.99 per month
- Sling TV (US) – $60.99 per month for the Blue & Orange package
- Sky Sports (UK, AU) – at least £35 per month
As you can see, all these channels are expensive; even Sky Sports will cost you a whopping £35 per month, while ESPN in the US will charge you $60.99 per month. Bear in mind, these prices are prone to change, and usually increase with each year. For reference, Sky Sports was £25 just a few years ago.
These channels don’t offer any form of a money-back guarantee. If you pay for one, you’ll have to watch it or cancel your subscription, but with no refund. And, after all, these are just sports channels, so all they do is provide you with live streams. Why do people use VPNs then? Because they obviously offer more.
Yes, you get access to live-streams, but also anonymous torrenting, bypassing censorship, securing your online presence, saving money on flights, and more. Paradoxically, VPNs are cheaper and have at least a 30-day refund policy, making them risk-free for enjoying a free Australian Open live stream.
Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch the Australian Open Live?
Yes, you can, but it’s not recommended. Free VPNs offer limited data, and they’re slow due to overcrowded servers. However, most concerning is that they have zero Australian servers, so unblocking 9Now is impossible. Another problem is their poor compatibility and the lack of simultaneous VPN connections.
Some free VPNs offer Australian servers. TunnelBear and PrivadoVPN are some, and they do work with 9Now. In this case, the issue is a data cap of 2 GB and 10 GB a month, which won’t be enough to make it through an entire match. But then, you have issues with security and privacy that premium VPNs don’t have.
Some, like Betternet VPN, store logs of your online activities, personal data, and IP address, and later sell them to third parties. These privacy issues surely don’t sound too exciting. Plus, since your data is limited to no more than 10 GB a month, watching the Australian Open 2026 live stream is possible only to an extent.
That said, we can’t recommend any free VPN since you can use our top three VPNs for free. The Australian Open lasts for twenty or so days, while you get at least a 30-day money-back guarantee. Despite spending money at the start, you can get a refund later, which is as if you were using a free VPN.
Australian Open 2026 Live Stream: Final Verdict
Watching the Australian Open live on a free channel is pretty easy with the demonstrated trick. Despite using a paid provider like NordVPN, the whole trick revolves around a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you use the VPN for free for 30 days. The tournament lasts for roughly twenty days, so there’s ample time for a refund.
Our recommended VPNs offer unlimited bandwidth and fast speeds, essential for a superb experience. Although we advise using NordVPN, other picks on this list are viable as well. CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are also affordable solutions for achieving the same effect. In the end, we gave you all you need for this year’s spectacle.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy both the VPN and the Australian Open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stream AO 2026 live without paying?
Yes, you can do that by using a free VPN, in theory. In practice, almost no free VPN offers Australian servers, which means unblocking 9Now, which streams this event, is impossible. To enjoy the entire event, paying is the only option. However, the VPNs we advised have a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost bumps it up to 45 days, even. Even if you spend your money, AO won’t last for longer than 30 or 45 days. This means you can comfortably sit through the entire event and get a refund when you’re finished.
How to watch the Australian Open live on my phone?
The same way as you do on your computer or laptop. Their apps for iOS and Android let you stream AO live on 9Now or any other channel. SmartDNS is also available for streaming on non-VPN-compatible devices.
Can a VPN help me stream other tennis Grand Slams?
Yes, it can. Depending on your location, channels that stream these events are often geo-blocked. With a VPN, you can unblock all and access your favorite Grand Slams easily. Bear in mind you’ll need an active VPN subscription, so you may not want to get a refund, as it’ll render the VPN useless.
Where can I find the Australian Open 2026 match schedule?
You can do this on the official AO website. The schedule is updated on the day before play, and all times are in AEDT (Australian time), so if you’re abroad, use a time converter to adapt the schedule to your time zone.
