In 2026, the WTA Finals will take place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California, as the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has concluded its partnership with Saudi Arabia a year ahead of schedule. The tournament had been hosted in Riyadh for the past two years under a three-year agreement signed in April 2024 with the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF), which included record-high prize money.
However, the final year of the agreement was mutually terminated after the STF accepted WTA’s request to move this year’s finals to a different location. According to reports by BBC Sport, the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States have complicated the planning of the Championship Tournament and are among the reasons for the early conclusion of the contract.
Indian Wells to Host WTA Finals in 2026
This year, the competition will occur at Indian Wells from November 8 to 15, featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the year. Valerie Camillo, the president of the WTA, expressed that this year’s tournament at Indian Wells allows the organization to “continue building one of the most significant championships in global sports.”
Camillo emphasized that “Indian Wells Tennis Garden provides an exceptional stage for the WTA Finals,” noting its world-class facilities, passionate fans, and proven capacity to host top-tier tennis events, which are essential for showcasing the best of women’s tennis.
Indian Wells already hosts the WTA 1000 tournament as part of the BNP Paribas Open in March, alongside the men’s Masters 1000 event. The WTA’s decision to stage the Finals in Saudi Arabia in 2024 had drawn significant criticism due to accusations that the country was using sports events to “sportswash” its reputation amid ongoing human rights violations and restrictions on women’s rights and freedom of expression.
Nonetheless, WTA CEO Steve Simon defended the decision, stating that bringing women’s tennis to Riyadh would support the meaningful changes occurring in the region. “WTA has been breaking barriers for over 50 years,” Simon remarked. “We aim to create more opportunities for women to compete at elite levels in tennis, which can inspire more women and girls to engage in the sport. We are a global sport. The WTA now conducts all these tournaments and attracts individuals from around the world, reflecting diverse cultures and systems,” he added.
Saudi Arabia secured the hosting rights after the WTA considered multiple bids from various regions and assessed potential hosts based on three criteria, including support for the association’s commitment to achieving equal prize money for women.
