TLDR
The cheapest way to get into Wimbledon in 2026 is a Ground Pass via The Queue, starting from around £27 for adults. Ground Passes give access to the outer courts plus a chance to get into Centre Court or No.1 Court if spare seats are released. The ballot is the best route to a Centre Court ticket but demand is extremely high.
This guide covers every way to get Wimbledon tickets in 2026, what each one costs, and which option suits different types of visitors.
Insider Tip
If you queue for a Ground Pass on Days 4-7 (the second Wednesday to Saturday), the crowds are slightly smaller than the first week but the tennis quality is identical. Second-round and third-round matches on Courts 2 and 3 in the middle of the first week are often as good as anything on Centre Court. You are watching the same players for £27 with a fraction of the hassle.
The Three Ways to Get Wimbledon Tickets
There are three legitimate ways to get Wimbledon 2026 tickets. Each has different access levels and price points.
1. The Public Ballot – best route for Centre Court and No.1 Court
2. The Queue – best for a guaranteed day out at a lower price
3. Debenture Tickets – the most expensive option, bought on the resale market
Option 1: The Public Ballot
The public ballot is run by the All England Club and gives you the chance to buy tickets for specific courts and sessions through a random draw.
When to apply: The ballot opens in late 2025 or early 2026 and closes in December. Applications for Wimbledon 2026 open on the official website at wimbledon.com. There is a separate postal ballot if you prefer not to apply online.
How it works: Apply during the ballot window. The All England Club runs the draw in the spring. If successful, you are offered tickets at face value and given a limited window to buy.
Chances of success: Low. The ballot receives millions of applications for a limited number of tickets. Most applicants are unsuccessful. You can apply as an individual or as a pair. Entering alone slightly improves your odds.
Prices (approximate 2025 face values): Centre Court from £70-230 depending on the round and session. No.1 Court from £50-100. Outer courts from £30-70.
Option 2: The Queue (Ground Passes)
The Queue is the most reliable way to get into Wimbledon without a ballot ticket or expensive resale. People camp overnight or arrive early morning and queue for same-day entry.
How it works: Turn up on the day and join The Queue in Wimbledon Park (opposite the club). You are given a wristband and a numbered card. When the gates open, you buy a Ground Pass at the turnstiles.
Ground Pass price: Approximately £27 for adults in 2025 (check the official site for 2026 pricing). Under-16s are usually £10-13.
What you get with a Ground Pass: Access to the outside courts including Court 2, Court 3, Court 12, Court 18, and the smaller show courts. These courts host genuine top-100 players throughout the first week. You do not automatically get Centre Court or No.1 Court access with a Ground Pass.
Can you get into Centre Court with a Ground Pass? Sometimes. The All England Club releases a limited number of spare Centre Court and No.1 Court seats from afternoon around 1pm each day. Ground Pass holders queue separately inside the grounds for these released seats. There is no guarantee but it is a genuine possibility, especially in the first week.
When to arrive for The Queue: For first-week weekdays, arriving by 6am gives a comfortable position. For the first Monday or Saturday (popular days), overnight queuing is common among those who want certainty. The middle of the first week on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning offers the best balance of reasonable queue time and good tennis on the outer courts.
Is The Queue still running in 2026? Yes. The Queue is a Wimbledon tradition and the All England Club confirmed it continues. Always check wimbledon.com before travelling in case any changes are made for the 2026 edition.
Option 3: Debenture Tickets
Debenture holders are individuals who paid for a long-term seat licence at Wimbledon. They have the right to resell their tickets each year.
Debenture tickets for Centre Court are the most expensive way to attend Wimbledon. Resale prices for second-week matches and the finals reach £800-2,500+ per ticket depending on the match and the seats.
Use authorised resale platforms only. Wimbledon authorises specific resellers to list debenture tickets. Check wimbledon.com for the current authorised list. Avoid unofficial resale sites where tickets may be fraudulent.
Avoiding Wimbledon Ticket Scams
Wimbledon has one of the worst problems with counterfeit and fraudulent ticket sales of any UK sporting event. Key rules to avoid being scammed:
Only buy from wimbledon.com for ballot tickets. Only buy from All England Club-authorised resellers for debenture tickets. Tickets bought from unofficial resale sites such as Viagogo, StubHub, or Craigslist listings carry a significant risk of being invalid or cancelled.
The All England Club does periodically scan QR codes and cancel tickets that have been resold outside authorised channels.
For watching Wimbledon from home for free, see the complete BBC iPlayer and streaming guide.
Looking for Tickets?
For ballot tickets, apply at wimbledon.com when the window opens (usually autumn). For Ground Passes, turn up early on the day and join The Queue. For debenture resale, use only All England Club-authorised resellers listed on wimbledon.com.
