The ATP Challenger Tour calendar 2026 features a record 265 tournaments held across six continents throughout the season — up from 216 in 2025, as part of the ATP’s biggest-ever Challenger Tour expansion.
These tournaments sit just below the ATP Tour and allow rising players to earn ranking points, prize money, and experience against strong competition.
Many top ATP players—including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—played Challenger tournaments early in their careers.
Tournaments are organised into several categories based on ranking points and prize money, ranging from Challenger 50 to 175 events.
The Challenger Tour schedule runs throughout the year and includes events across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Table of Contents
What Is the ATP Challenger Tour?
The ATP Challenger Tour is the second-highest level of professional men’s tennis, sitting below the ATP Tour and above the ITF World Tennis Tour.
Players compete in Challenger tournaments to:
- earn ATP ranking points
- gain entry into ATP Tour events
- improve their rankings
- develop experience against higher-ranked opponents
Most Challenger events feature a 28 or 32 player main draw, with qualifying rounds allowing additional players to compete for entry.
See table below for key facts about the ATP Challenger tour.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tour level | Second tier of men’s professional tennis |
| Approx. tournaments per year | 265 (2026) |
| Prize money range | $50,000 – $300,000 |
| Highest category | Challenger 175 |
| Surfaces | Hard, Clay, Grass, Indoor Hard |
| Typical draw size | 28–32 players |
What’s New for the 2026 Season
The 2026 season is the biggest in Challenger Tour history. The calendar has grown from 216 events in 2025 to 265 in 2026, total prize money has risen to a record $32.4 million, and 50 new Challenger 50 tournaments have been added to widen access for players lower in the rankings.
The expansion is part of the ATP’s OneVision strategy, which also introduced the top-level Challenger 175 category. Only six events carry Challenger 175 status in 2026 — Phoenix, Cap Cana, Cagliari, Aix-en-Provence, Valencia and Bordeaux — and they typically draw players ranked inside the ATP Top 50–80. Tennis Channel is also broadcasting 35 “Challenger Showcase” events across the season, giving fans a more consistent way to follow the tour.
ATP Challenger Tournament Categories
ATP Challenger events are divided into five categories depending on the ranking points available and the prize money offered.
| Category | Points | Typical Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
| Challenger 175 | 175 | $300,000 |
| Challenger 125 | 125 | $200,000 |
| Challenger 100 | 100 | $160,000 |
| Challenger 75 | 75 | $100,000 |
| Challenger 50 | 50 | $50,000 |
The Challenger 175 tournaments are the highest level events and are often played during ATP Masters weeks when top-ranked players are competing elsewhere.
Below are some of the Major ATP Challenger Tournaments planned for the 2026 season.
| Tournament | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Tennis Classic | Phoenix, USA | Hard |
| Cap Cana Challenger | Dominican Republic | Hard |
| Aix-en-Provence Challenger | France | Clay |
| Bordeaux Challenger | France | Clay |
| Cagliari Challenger | Italy | Clay |
| Valencia Challenger | Spain | Clay |
These tournaments often feature players ranked inside the top 100 who are returning from injury or preparing for major tournaments.
Challenger Tournaments by Surface
| Surface | Events |
|---|---|
| Hard | Canberra, Phoenix, Vancouver |
| Clay | Naples, Bordeaux, Aix-en-Provence |
| Grass | Ilkley, Nottingham |
| Indoor Hard | Quimper, Pau |
ATP Challenger Calendar 2026
Below is the full 2026 ATP Challenger Tour schedule by month, including tournament locations, surfaces, and event categories.
January 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan – 11 Jan | Bengaluru Open | 125 | India | Hard |
| 5 Jan – 11 Jan | Canberra Challenger | 125 | Australia | Hard |
| 5 Jan – 11 Jan | Nouméa Challenger | 75 | New Caledonia | Hard |
| 5 Jan – 11 Jan | Nonthaburi Open | 50 | Thailand | Hard |
| 5 Jan – 11 Jan | Nottingham Challenger | 50 | UK | Indoor Hard |
February 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb – 8 Feb | Rosario Challenger | 125 | Argentina | Clay |
| 2 Feb – 8 Feb | Brisbane Challenger | 75 | Australia | Hard |
| 2 Feb – 8 Feb | Cleveland Challenger | 75 | USA | Indoor Hard |
| 9 Feb – 15 Feb | Pau Challenger | 125 | France | Indoor Hard |
| 9 Feb – 15 Feb | Tenerife Challenger | 75 | Spain | Hard |
| 16 Feb – 22 Feb | Lille Challenger | 125 | France | Indoor Hard |
| 23 Feb – 1 Mar | Lugano Challenger | 75 | Switzerland | Indoor Hard |
March 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar – 8 Mar | Thionville Challenger | 100 | France | Indoor Hard |
| 2 Mar – 8 Mar | Kigali Challenger | 75 | Rwanda | Clay |
| 9 Mar – 15 Mar | Phoenix Challenger | 175 | USA | Hard |
| 9 Mar – 15 Mar | Cap Cana Challenger | 175 | Dominican Republic | Hard |
| 16 Mar – 22 Mar | Murcia Challenger | 75 | Spain | Clay |
| 23 Mar – 29 Mar | Morelia Open | 125 | Mexico | Hard |
| 23 Mar – 29 Mar | Naples Challenger | 125 | Italy | Clay |
April 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr – 12 Apr | Mexico City Open | 125 | Mexico | Clay |
| 6 Apr – 12 Apr | Monza Challenger | 125 | Italy | Clay |
| 13 Apr – 19 Apr | Busan Challenger | 125 | South Korea | Hard |
| 13 Apr – 19 Apr | Oeiras Challenger | 125 | Portugal | Clay |
| 20 Apr – 26 Apr | Savannah Challenger | 75 | USA | Clay |
| 27 Apr – 3 May | Aix-en-Provence Challenger | 175 | France | Clay |
May 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May – 10 May | Wuxi Challenger | 100 | China | Hard |
| 11 May – 17 May | Bordeaux Challenger | 175 | France | Clay |
| 11 May – 17 May | Valencia Challenger | 175 | Spain | Clay |
| 18 May – 24 May | Istanbul Challenger | 75 | Turkey | Clay |
| 25 May – 31 May | Vicenza Challenger | 75 | Italy | Clay |
June 2026 (Grass Season)
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun – 7 Jun | Birmingham Challenger | 125 | UK | Grass |
| 8 Jun – 14 Jun | Ilkley Challenger | 125 | UK | Grass |
| 15 Jun – 21 Jun | Nottingham Challenger | 125 | UK | Grass |
Grass Challenger events are particularly important for players preparing for Wimbledon.
July 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jul – 12 Jul | Braunschweig Challenger | 125 | Germany | Clay |
| 6 Jul – 12 Jul | Newport Challenger | 125 | USA | Grass |
| 13 Jul – 19 Jul | Bunschoten Challenger | 75 | Netherlands | Clay |
| 20 Jul – 26 Jul | Zug Challenger | 125 | Switzerland | Clay |
August 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul – 2 Aug | Vancouver Challenger | 125 | Canada | Hard |
| 27 Jul – 2 Aug | San Marino Challenger | 125 | San Marino | Clay |
These events help players prepare for the North American hard court swing and the US Open.
September 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep – 13 Sep | Genoa Challenger | 125 | Italy | Clay |
| 7 Sep – 13 Sep | Seville Challenger | 125 | Spain | Clay |
| 7 Sep – 13 Sep | Shanghai Challenger | 100 | China | Hard |
| 7 Sep – 13 Sep | Tulln Challenger | 100 | Austria | Clay |
| 7 Sep – 13 Sep | Cassis Challenger | 75 | France | Hard |
| 7 Sep – 13 Sep | Istanbul Challenger | 75 | Turkey | Hard |
| 7 Sep – 13 Sep | Phan Thiet Challenger | 50 | Vietnam | Hard |
| 14 Sep – 20 Sep | Szczecin Challenger | 125 | Poland | Clay |
| 14 Sep – 20 Sep | Tiburon Challenger | 125 | USA | Hard |
| 14 Sep – 20 Sep | Guangzhou Challenger | 100 | China | Hard |
| 14 Sep – 20 Sep | Rennes Challenger | 100 | France | Indoor Hard |
| 14 Sep – 20 Sep | Biella Challenger | 50 | Italy | Clay |
| 14 Sep – 20 Sep | Phan Thiet Challenger | 50 | Vietnam | Hard |
| 21 Sep – 27 Sep | Saint-Tropez Challenger | 125 | France | Hard |
| 21 Sep – 27 Sep | Buenos Aires Challenger | 75 | Argentina | Clay |
| 21 Sep – 27 Sep | Genoa Challenger | 75 | Italy | Clay |
| 21 Sep – 27 Sep | Plovdiv Challenger | 75 | Bulgaria | Clay |
| 21 Sep – 27 Sep | San Diego Challenger | 75 | USA | Hard |
| 28 Sep – 4 Oct | Porto Challenger | 125 | Portugal | Hard |
| 28 Sep – 4 Oct | Jingshan Challenger | 100 | China | Hard |
| 28 Sep – 4 Oct | Columbus Challenger | 75 | USA | Indoor Hard |
| 28 Sep – 4 Oct | Curitiba Challenger | 75 | Brazil | Clay |
| 28 Sep – 4 Oct | Mouilleron-le-Captif Challenger | 75 | France | Indoor Hard |
| 28 Sep – 4 Oct | Bari Challenger | 50 | Italy | Clay |
October 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct – 11 Oct | Villena Challenger | 100 | Spain | Hard |
| 5 Oct – 11 Oct | Antofagasta Challenger | 75 | Chile | Clay |
| 5 Oct – 11 Oct | Braga Challenger | 75 | Portugal | Clay |
| 5 Oct – 11 Oct | Palermo Challenger | 50 | Italy | Clay |
| 5 Oct – 11 Oct | Wuning Challenger | 50 | China | Hard |
| 12 Oct – 18 Oct | Jinan Challenger | 125 | China | Hard |
| 12 Oct – 18 Oct | Olbia Challenger | 125 | Italy | Hard |
| 12 Oct – 18 Oct | Maia Challenger | 100 | Portugal | Indoor Clay |
| 12 Oct – 18 Oct | Roanne Challenger | 100 | France | Indoor Hard |
| 12 Oct – 18 Oct | Santa Cruz Challenger | 75 | Bolivia | Clay |
| 12 Oct – 18 Oct | Catania Challenger | 50 | Italy | Clay |
| 19 Oct – 25 Oct | Lisbon Challenger | 100 | Portugal | Clay |
| 19 Oct – 25 Oct | Cali Challenger | 75 | Colombia | Clay |
| 19 Oct – 25 Oct | Guangzhou Challenger | 75 | China | Hard |
| 19 Oct – 25 Oct | Florence Challenger | 50 | Italy | Clay |
| 26 Oct – 1 Nov | Seoul Challenger | 125 | South Korea | Hard |
| 26 Oct – 1 Nov | Brest Challenger | 100 | France | Indoor Hard |
| 26 Oct – 1 Nov | Sioux Falls Challenger | 100 | USA | Indoor Hard |
| 26 Oct – 1 Nov | Guayaquil Challenger | 75 | Ecuador | Clay |
| 26 Oct – 1 Nov | Ningbo Challenger | 75 | China | Hard |
| 26 Oct – 1 Nov | Gaborone Challenger | 50 | Botswana | Hard |
November 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov – 8 Nov | Costa do Sauípe Challenger | 125 | Brazil | Clay |
| 2 Nov – 8 Nov | Bratislava Challenger | 100 | Slovakia | Indoor Hard |
| 2 Nov – 8 Nov | Taipei Challenger | 100 | Taiwan | Indoor Hard |
| 2 Nov – 8 Nov | Charlottesville Challenger | 75 | USA | Indoor Hard |
| 2 Nov – 8 Nov | Villa María Challenger | 50 | Argentina | Clay |
| 9 Nov – 15 Nov | Orléans Challenger | 125 | France | Indoor Hard |
| 9 Nov – 15 Nov | Brisbane Challenger | 75 | Australia | Hard |
| 9 Nov – 15 Nov | Knoxville Challenger | 75 | USA | Indoor Hard |
| 9 Nov – 15 Nov | Lima Challenger | 75 | Peru | Clay |
| 9 Nov – 15 Nov | Matsuyama Challenger | 75 | Japan | Hard |
| 9 Nov – 15 Nov | Hersonissos Challenger | 50 | Greece | Hard |
| 9 Nov – 15 Nov | Monastir Challenger | 50 | Tunisia | Hard |
December 2026
| Dates | Tournament | Category | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov – 6 Dec | Bogotá Challenger | 75 | Colombia | Clay |
| 30 Nov – 6 Dec | Temuco Challenger | 75 | Chile | Hard |
| 30 Nov – 6 Dec | Chișinău Challenger | 50 | Moldova | Indoor Hard |
| 30 Nov – 6 Dec | Hersonissos Challenger | 50 | Greece | Hard |
| 30 Nov – 6 Dec | Soma Bay Challenger | 50 | Egypt | Hard |
| 30 Nov – 6 Dec | Trnava Challenger | 50 | Slovakia | Indoor Hard |
| 7 Dec – 13 Dec | Copenhagen Challenger | 50 | Denmark | Indoor Hard |
| 7 Dec – 13 Dec | La Paz Challenger | 50 | Bolivia | Clay |
| 7 Dec – 13 Dec | Monastir Challenger | 50 | Tunisia | Hard |
| 7 Dec – 13 Dec | Rio de Janeiro Challenger | 50 | Brazil | Clay |
Last updated: 6 September 2026. January–August results are final; September–December dates reflect the official ATP Challenger Tour calendar as of 18 August 2026 and may still see minor changes as tournaments are finalised.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Challenger tournaments are played each year?
The 2026 ATP Challenger Tour calendar includes a record 265 tournaments, up from 216 in 2025, played across more than 40 countries.
What is the highest Challenger category?
The highest level is Challenger 175, which awards 175 ATP ranking points to the winner.
Can top players play Challenger events?
Yes. Players ranked inside the top 100 sometimes compete in Challenger tournaments when returning from injury or looking to regain form.