BNP Paribas Open Sets New Attendance Records in 2026
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA – The 2026 BNP Paribas Open, held in Indian Wells, California, achieved record-breaking attendance, welcoming 527,626 spectators over the tournament’s two-week run. This marks the second consecutive year the event has surpassed the 500,000 attendee mark, solidifying its position as one of the best-attended tennis tournaments globally.
Record-Breaking Weekend and Single-Day Attendance
The central weekend of the tournament, spanning Friday, March 6th to Sunday, March 8th, drew an unprecedented 176,264 in-person spectators. This represents a new attendance record for a weekend at the BNP Paribas Open. Saturday, March 7th, specifically, saw 60,781 spectators, establishing a new single-day attendance record for the event. BNP Paribas Open
Tournament Overview
The BNP Paribas Open, sponsored by BNP Paribas, is an annual professional tennis tournament held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. Established in 1974, the tournament has evolved over the years, initially starting in Tucson, Arizona, before moving to Rancho Mirage, La Quinta and finally settling in Indian Wells in 1987. Indian Wells Open
Key Tournament Details
- Location: Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Indian Wells, California
- Surface: Hard (Laykold) – outdoors
- Dates: March 1 – 15, 2026
- ATP Tour Category: ATP Masters 1000
- WTA Tour Category: WTA 1000
- Prize Money: US$9,415,725 (2026)
2026 Champions
The 2026 tournament saw the following champions crowned:
- Men’s Singles: Jannik Sinner
- Women’s Singles: Aryna Sabalenka
- Men’s Doubles: Guido Andreozzi & Manuel Guinard
- Women’s Doubles: Kateřina Siniaková & Taylor Townsend
The “Fifth Grand Slam”
The Indian Wells Open is often referred to as the “fifth Grand Slam” due to its high attendance figures – 493,440 in 2024 – surpassing all Grand Slam tournaments except the US Open. Indian Wells Open The Indian Wells Tennis Garden boasts the second-largest permanent tennis stadium globally, second only to Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open.