The Australian Open returns to Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026. With Rory McIlroy committed for a second consecutive year and Australians Cameron Smith and Adam Scott in the field, organisers are hoping to build on a 2025 tournament that drew big crowds to Royal Melbourne.

Last year’s finish

The 2025 Australian Open at Royal Melbourne was won by Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who finished at 15 under par, one shot ahead of Smith. Smith missed a short putt that would have forced a playoff, leaving him still without an Australian Open title.

The 2026 field

Golf Australia confirmed the dates in December 2025, on the eve of the previous tournament, and announced that McIlroy would return. Kingston Heath captain Stephen Montfort said the five-time major champion would “grace our fairways for the first time as a professional golfer”.

Scott, who has confirmed his entry, said he was encouraging other leading players to make the trip. “If a couple guys came, I think that would be fantastic,” he said. “That would strengthen the field. I mean, we don’t need 50 guys coming down to make it a success, but I hope a couple can.”

“I’ve always loved playing the Australian Open,” Scott said. “It has so much incredible history and is a tournament every Australian golfer holds in such high regard. It’s a title we all want to win.”

Why Kingston Heath

Kingston Heath, in Cheltenham, is one of the famed Melbourne sandbelt courses and last hosted the Australian Open in 2024. The sandbelt’s firm, fast conditions and strategic bunkering are prized by players, and Victoria has used the region’s reputation to attract major events.

The business of the national open

Golf Australia runs the tournament in partnership with the Victorian Government and Visit Victoria. Announcing the 2026 dates, Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the partnership was about delivering an event “that drives the visitor economy, and brings more people to our sport.”

Victorian Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said securing the next two Australian Opens with McIlroy in the field was “a major win for Victoria”, noting that viewers in 180 countries could watch the tournament.

General admission tickets for the Saturday and Sunday of the 2025 event sold out, according to Golf Australia Magazine. Demand for 2026 will be tested by a crowded summer: the Australian PGA Championship is played in Sydney the week before, from 26 to 29 November.

What it means for Australian golf

A strong national open matters well beyond one week in December. It gives local professionals the chance to compete against the world’s best at home, attracts broadcasters and sponsors, and inspires participation at a time when golf is growing strongly. Golf Australia’s latest participation report found that more than four million Australians played some form of golf in 2024–25, a record.

For Smith, the tournament offers another chance at the one big Australian title that has eluded him. For Golf Australia, it is an opportunity to show that last year’s crowds were the start of a trend rather than a one-off.