New Match For WTA 2026 Finals: Moving From Saudi Arabia To Indian Wells CA
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 05:05PM By Barry Janoff
July 1, 2026: The WTA Finals are on the move — again.
The WTA Driven by Mercedes-Benz said the 2026 WTA Finals would be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calf., from Nov. 8-15.
The season-ending event had been scheduled to be played in Riyadh in the third-year of a three-year deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation. The WTA requested the change in location and to end the alliance a year early, The Saudi Tennis Federation accepted WTA’s proposal, “and the two organizations mutually agreed on the conclusion of the hosting arrangement.”
According to AP Sports, “There were concerns about going back to Saudi Arabia due to military conflicts in the Middle East.”
Indian Wells Tennis Garden is host to the annual Masters 1000 BNP Paribas Open in March, a joint event for the WTA and ATP.
WTA said the site's main arena, Stadium 1, can hold more 16,000 fans and is the second-largest outdoor tennis stadium in the world. Arthur Ashe Stadium in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens,, NY seats 23,771.
The BNP Paribas Open reported record attendance in 2026 with 500,000-plus people on the grounds over the tournament's duration.
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 championship match and earned $5.23 million after going 5-0 at the event. The WTA said that was the largest payout in the history of women’s sports.
Sabalenka earned $2.7 million as runner-up.
Indian Wells will mark the seventh different venue for the WTA Finals since 2018.
After five seasons in Singapore — 2014-18 — the WTA signed a ten-year deal to hold the tournament in Shenzhen, China, The WTA Finals took place there in 2019 but was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic in 2020.
It was then moved in 2021 to Guadalajara, Mexico “due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.”
The WTA again relocated the event in 2022, to Fort Worth, Texas, with the tennis organizations cancelling several events in China due to concerns tennis player Peng Shuai, who disappeared from public view after accusing a Chinese government official of sexual assault.
In 2023, the WTA Finals were staged Cancun, Mexico. The WTA then unveiled the three-year deal with Saudi Arabia in April 2024.
"The Indian Wells Tennis Garden provides an exceptional stage for the WTA Finals," Valerie Camillo, WTA chai, said via the organization.
“From its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women's tennis. We are excited to bring the WTA Finals to Southern California and continue building one of the premier championships in global sport."
According to the WTA, "Widely regarded as one of the sport's premier destinations, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden combines world-class infrastructure, exceptional player and fan amenities, and a long-standing reputation for delivering elite tennis experiences. Home of the award-winning BNP Paribas Open, the venue has welcomed generations of the sport's greatest champions and will now serve as the host of the 2026 WTA Finals.”
According to Philippe Dore, CMO for Indian Wells Tennis Garden via the group, “We’re honored to partner with the WTA to host the WTA Finals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
““Welcoming the top women’s players to the home of the BNP Paribas Open for the year-end Finals is a tremendous opportunity to celebrate women’s tennis. We look forward to providing a world-class venue and atmosphere worthy of one of the sport’s premier events.”
ATP Extends Year-End Nitto Finals In Turin Thru ’27, Italy Thru ’30
Back to Home Page