The Open 2026: What Happens Each Day and When to Be There

The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale runs from 13–19 July 2026. Seven days. Very different days. The mistake most first-timers make is treating all of them as equivalent: they're not. A Monday practice round and a Sunday championship round are completely different events at the same venue. Here's what actually happens each day and how to choose when to go.

Monday 13 July: Practice Day 1

The first practice day is the most relaxed atmosphere of the week. The crowds are genuinely light by Open standards. Players are on the course in dribs and drabs: some doing full practice rounds, some working specific holes, some on the driving range for hours. You can get close to players in a way that championship days simply don't allow. This is the day to be on the range early. Show up by 8am and you'll watch world-class players warm up from a few feet away.

Tuesday 14 July: Practice Day 2

Practice Day 2 sees fuller practice rounds as players finalise their game plans. The 18th green area gets busier in the afternoon. Tuesday is often when player pairings and specific practice matches happen: occasionally you'll see two players you recognise competing informally. Still manageable crowds compared to championship days. Practice round tickets are typically £25–£40 and usually still available if you haven't bought them.

Wednesday 15 July: Practice Day 3 and Pro-Am

The R&A runs a Pro-Am on Wednesday afternoon, pairing elite amateurs with tour professionals. The atmosphere is noticeably more relaxed: players are looser, the gallery is friendly, and there's a lot of incidental conversation on the course. The final practice round also means players are making last decisions about course management. Good day to follow one specific group for a full round.

Thursday 17 July: First Round

Wait: the championship actually starts Thursday 16 July based on the official schedule. Early morning tee times in Round 1 give you the quietest experience of a championship day. The front 9 in the first few hours is almost calm by later-in-week standards. If you're attending a championship round for the first time, Thursday morning is the most manageable version of it. Get to the 1st tee area between 7–8am and follow the early starters: you'll be close to the players and moving freely around the course.

Friday: Second Round and the cut

Friday is where The Open starts to sharpen. The cut looms. Players who are inside the cut line are competing harder; players outside it are struggling visibly. Crowds build through the afternoon as the cut line becomes clearer. The 18th green on Friday afternoon: watching players react to knowing whether they've made the weekend: is one of the more interesting spectator spots of the week.

Saturday: Moving Day

The biggest crowds of the week arrive on Saturday. Players in contention are making their moves. The leaderboard is forming. You'll wait longer for food, longer at train stations, longer at most choke points around the course. Book your travel in and out in advance. The 14th through 18th on Saturday afternoon, when the leaders come through, is where Open Championships are decided in terms of narrative. Position yourself there early.

Sunday: Final Round

The 18th green on Sunday afternoon is the reason people travel from the other side of the world to attend The Open. If you have a Sunday ticket and a position anywhere near that green, you're watching one of the great sporting events at one of its great moments. Don't spend Sunday tracking the leaderboard on your phone. Watch the golf.