It’s the dead of winter in the US and Europe. That means snowstorms, ski outings, fireside comfort and dreams of coming to the Coachella Valley for a much-needed dose of paradise in March! Here at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where the sun never forgets to shine and the iconic tennis courts are always backdropped by the majesty of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains, we’re getting ready to welcome the most passionate tennis fans in the world for a 2026 event that promises to be the best edition ever. 

Today, January 20, the eyes of the tennis world are firmly focused on the Australian Open, where the first round of 2026’s first Grand Slam is already in the books. As we bask in the glory of the Happy Slam in Melbourne, about 8,000 miles from our Stadium 1, final plans for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open are crystalizing. 

There are sure to be surprises. Remember 2019 when a Canadian kid by the name of Bianca Andreescu, a relative unknown at that point in her career, reeled off six jaw-dropping wins to become the youngest Indian Wells champion since Serena Williams in 1999? Or how about 2022, when Southern California native Taylor Fritz had to practically be airlifted off the practice courts to face three-time champion Rafael Nadal in the final. Fritz was hobbled by an ankle injury but that didn’t stop him from shocking Nadal to become the first American man to win in the California desert since the great Andre Agassi in 2001.

Fritz and Andreescu, like so many of our past champions, are embedded into the lore of the tournament. Federer and Djokovic each have five titles, more than any other player, male or female. Iga Swiatek, the Polish juggernaut, could someday join them – like jet-setting world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, she already has two and will take a shot at number three in March when legends and young guns from around the globe come to chase the endless summer that awaits them at Tennis Paradise. 

Here’s hoping that you’ll be here too, because more than any single player it is our fans that bring the color and the magic to Indian Wells. 

Like the surreal landscape of Joshua Tree National park, where the Mojave desert meets the Colorado river just about an hour’s drive from Indian Wells, the BNP Paribas Open is a blank canvas that bursts into bloom every March. We never know exactly what it’s going to look like, but we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure it is a stunning, memorable affair for all who pass through our gates. 

See you soon!