Prizemoney at Wimbledon this year has increased by 20 per cent from 2025 to a record-breaking figure of £64.2 million ($A122.7 million).
The All England Club revealed the prize pot on Thursday morning during a press conference with chair Debbie Jevans and chief executive Sally Bolton in SW19.
A group of the world's leading players staged a pre-event protest at the French Open, where media activities were limited to 15 minutes each after prizemoney only increased by 9.5 per cent from 2025 and stayed at around 15 per cent of the revenue generated from the grand slam at Roland Garros.
The ambition of the players' group is for the prize fund to be closer to 22 per cent of the tournament's revenue.
Wimbledon's increase from £53.5 million ($A102.2 million) last year to £64.2 million ($A122.7 million) represents a 20 per cent increase on the Championships in 2025.
"For 2026 the prizemoney fund will be £64.2 million, that is a 20 per cent increase on last year and £10.7 million ($A20.4 million) uplift which allows players to continue to share in our success," Jevans said.
"Our support for players is distributed throughout the draw. Gentleman and Ladies singles' champions will each receive £3.6 million ($A6.9 million) and first-round prize money is set at £80,000 ($A152,900), so players that lose in the first round will share more than £5 million ($A9.6 million) in prizemoney.
"These figures represent a substantial increase in prizemoney."
A number of tennis stars cut their French Open media duties short as part of a 15-minute limit in protest at the prize money on offer ❌
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 23, 2026
The 15-minute limit is meant to symbolise the 15% of revenue the French Open currently offers. pic.twitter.com/XltR8jVT31
Wimbledon CEO Bolton met with the players' representative Larry Scott at Roland Garros last month.
"There has been no dialogue with the players direct but we have had dialogue with Larry Scott, who has been appointed by some of players to represent them," Jevons said.
"We have had dialogue, email exchanges and a meeting in Paris. After Paris you have all read the 22 per cent and £70 million ($A134 million), what we have done is right and appropriate.
"We begin looking at prizemoney in January. We looked at investment in facilities, in grassroots and player prizemoney. I would hope the players would welcome it."
