London [UK], June 12: Prize money at Wimbledon this year has increased by 20% from 2025 to a record-breaking figure of £64.2 million ($85.9 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.
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 prize money only increased by 9.5% from 2025 and stayed at around 15% 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% of the tournament's revenue.
Wimbledon's increase from £53.5 million last year to £64.2 million represents a 20% increase on the Championships in 2025.
"I recognise there is one topic you are most interested in hearing about this morning and that's prize money," Jevans said.
"For 2026 the prize money fund will be £64.2 million, that is a 20% increase on last year and £10.7 million uplift which allows players to continue to share in our success.
"Our support for players is distributed throughout the draw.
Gentleman and Ladies singles' champions will each receive £3.6 million and first-round prize money is set at £80,000, so players that lose in the first round will share more than £5 million in prize money.
"These figures represent a substantial increase in prize money."
Wimbledon CEO Bolton met with the players' representative Larry Scott at Roland Garros last month.
Jevons said: "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.
"We have had dialogue, email exchanges and a meeting in Paris.
"After Paris you have all read the 22% and £70 million, what we have done is right and appropriate.
"We begin looking at prize money in January. We looked at investment in facilities, in grassroots and player prize money. I would hope the players would welcome it."
Source: Qatar Tribune
