ATP Finals 2026: Schedule, Format, Prize Money and Qualified Players
Last November, Jannik Sinner pocketed $5.07 million, the largest cheque in the tournament’s history. Yet the ATP Finals 2026 will start without him. A knee injury has ended his season, so the race for his seat is wide open. Meanwhile, three players already hold confirmed places. So here’s a clear guide to the dates, the format, the money and the field in Turin.
ATP Finals 2026 Dates and Venue
First, the basics: the ATP Finals 2026 run from 15 to 22 November in Turin, Italy. Because the event is indoors, matches are played on hard courts at the Inalpi Arena. Because this is the sixth straight year in Turin, the city now feels like the event’s home. Before that, the tournament sat in London, where the last edition came in 2020.
In July 2026, the ATP and the Italian federation renewed their deal, so Turin stays on the calendar through 2027. Meanwhile, the arena’s seating capacity is set to rise above 13,500 this year. Meanwhile, Nitto remains the title partner, and its sponsorship runs through 2030. As a result, the ATP Finals 2026 should be the biggest edition yet in Turin. In the end, the singles final falls on 22 November.
How the ATP Finals Format Works
Still, this event doesn’t follow a normal knockout draw. Eight singles players and eight doubles teams take part, and two alternates stand by in case of injury. So the singles field splits into two groups of four. Then each player faces the other three in his group, which makes a round robin.
After that, the top two from each group move into the semi-finals. Then the winners of those matches reach the final. If players finish level, however, the head-to-head result is one of the tiebreakers. Because every match is played over three sets, the week moves quickly. For a refresher on how games and sets are counted, see our guide to tennis scoring.
How Players Qualify
Meanwhile, qualification runs through the ATP Race to Turin, which counts points from 1 January 2026. The top seven players in the Race after the Paris Masters get places. In addition, a Grand Slam champion who finishes inside the Race top 20 also earns a spot. So a major title can open a door, even for a player who misses events.
If a qualified player withdraws, the next name in line moves up. For that reason, the field isn’t final until the Paris Masters ends. Likewise, doubles teams follow the same order of precedence. Still, the singles race draws most of the attention.
ATP Finals 2026 Prize Money
Because the 2026 prize pool wasn’t confirmed at the time of writing, last year’s numbers help. Even so, last year’s figures give a strong guide. For instance, in 2025 the total pool reached a record $15.5 million. Then an undefeated champion collected $5.07 million. Meanwhile, the runner-up took home about $2.7 million.
Even a player who lost all three round-robin matches earned $331,000. That was the set fee for completing the group stage. Because prize money depends on match wins, a perfect week pays the most. In 2025, Sinner won the title without losing a match, and he beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4), 7-5 in the final. Expect the 2026 purse to match or beat that total, but always check the official ATP release.
ATP Finals 2026 Qualified Players
Players Already in the Field
As of 21 October 2026, three singles players have a confirmed seat. Alexander Zverev leads the Race to Turin after winning the Roland Garros and US Open titles this year. Carlos Alcaraz also qualified, since he won the Australian Open. In fact, he reached the ATP Finals for the fifth straight season. Ben Shelton then secured his place on 18 October.
Jannik Sinner had also qualified, back on 10 July, after winning Wimbledon. However, he has since ended his season with a right knee injury. Because he’ll be absent, the eighth qualifying place rolls down to the next player in the Race. That’s why the final spots matter even more now.
Players Still Chasing a Place
So five places remain open. Meanwhile, several players are fighting for them, according to reports this month. The names mentioned most often include:
- Flavio Cobolli
- Frances Tiafoe
- Arthur Fils
- Daniil Medvedev
- Novak Djokovic
- Alex de Minaur
- Rafael Jodar
Treat this list as a group of contenders, not a confirmed field. Still, the Paris Masters will settle it. Once those results arrive, the official draw can be set. Until then, any name above could still miss out.
What to Watch in Turin
However, each qualified player brings a different storyline. Zverev arrives as the form player, with two majors in 2026. He has also won the ATP Finals twice before, in 2018 and 2021. By contrast, Alcaraz comes back from a wrist injury that kept him out of two majors this year. Even so, he reached the quarter-finals at the US Open on his return.
Shelton, meanwhile, has unfinished business. Last year, he went 0-3 on his debut in Turin. Since then, he has reached the US Open final, so his confidence should be higher. Because the round robin guarantees three matches, each player gets time to settle. So that format rewards steady form more than one lucky draw.
Doubles at the ATP Finals 2026
Singles grabs the headlines, but doubles matters too. Eight teams qualify, and they receive places in the same order as the singles players. Because the points come from the same events, the doubles race also runs through the Paris Masters. So the full draw for both events can only be set once that tournament ends.
Doubles teams also play round-robin groups. After that, the top teams move into the knockout rounds. In other words, the structure mirrors the singles event. For fans buying tickets, that means a full week of matches on the same court. Meanwhile, the doubles final also falls on the closing weekend, so the arena stays busy from start to finish.
How the Week Unfolds
The tournament starts on Sunday 15 November, and it ends a week later. First, the group stage fills most of the opening days. Then the semi-finals arrive, followed by the final on 22 November.
Session times weren’t published at the time of writing, so check the official schedule before you plan a trip. Still, the structure stays the same every year, which makes the ATP Finals 2026 week easy to follow. Because the group stage guarantees three matches per player, fans also get plenty of top-level tennis. In short, even a quiet day in Turin offers star names on court.
Why Sinner’s Absence Changes the Picture
Because Sinner won the last two editions, in 2024 and 2025, he was the default favourite. Now his absence leaves the title race open. Meanwhile, Alcaraz lost last year’s final, and he has a 7-5 record at the event. Zverev, for his part, also knows the arena well.
In addition, home support shifts. Italian fans will miss their champion at the ATP Finals 2026, so the crowd will look for a new hero. Still, tennis remains hugely popular in Italy, and the arena should stay full. So the event keeps its pull even without the defending champion. Because the tournament pays ranking points as well, the ATP Finals 2026 also shape the final rankings of the year.
Surface, Pace and Style in Turin
Notably, the Inalpi Arena uses an indoor hard court. Since that surface rewards big serves and clean ground strokes, power players start well. Because the roof removes wind, the ball travels truer than it does outdoors. As a result, strong servers often start fast in the round robin. For a deeper look at how courts shape matches, read our guide to clay vs grass vs hard court tennis.
ATP Finals History and Records
The tournament began in 1970, so it has a long list of champions. At the top, Novak Djokovic holds the record with seven titles. Then Roger Federer follows with six. Meanwhile, Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras each won five. Sinner has two, and so does Zverev.
Beyond Turin, many of this year’s contenders also shine at the majors. In fact, Zverev, Alcaraz and Sinner each won a Slam in 2026. To see how those titles fit into the season, check our explainer on Grand Slam tournaments. Together, then, the Slams and the Finals shape the story of every season.
Key Takeaways
- Dates: The ATP Finals 2026 run from 15 to 22 November in Turin.
- Format: Eight players play round-robin groups, then semi-finals and a final.
- Prize money: The 2025 pool hit $15.5 million, with $5.07 million for an undefeated champion.
- Qualified: Zverev, Alcaraz and Shelton have confirmed places as of 21 October.
- Sinner: The two-time champion has ended his season with a knee injury.
FAQs
When is the ATP Finals 2026?
The tournament runs from 15 to 22 November 2026 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin.
How many players take part in the ATP Finals?
Eight singles players and eight doubles teams compete, with two alternates on standby.
Who has qualified for the ATP Finals 2026?
As of 21 October, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton have confirmed places.
Is Jannik Sinner playing the ATP Finals 2026?
No, because a right knee injury has ended his 2026 season.
How much prize money did the 2025 champion earn?
Sinner earned $5.07 million for winning the 2025 title without losing a match.
Conclusion
Overall, the ATP Finals 2026 arrive with a reshaped field and a wide-open title race. Zverev, Alcaraz and Shelton are in, five places are still up for grabs, and Sinner is out. Because the Paris Masters decides the rest, the picture may change quickly. Still, whatever happens, Turin will host a week of top-level indoor tennis.
