The 2026 Erste Bank Open runs from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November in Vienna, before the Christmas markets open. Schönbrunn and Stephansplatz open on Friday 6 November, the Rathausplatz market on the 13th. A Ground ticket at the Marx Halle costs €25 for the day; at the Wiener Stadthalle, the price changes daily. Pick a late-October tennis weekend or a November markets weekend: you can’t have both on the same trip.
Tennis on 24 October, mulled wine on 6 November: in Vienna, these two pleasures don’t fall on the same weekend. The Erste Bank Open finals take place on Sunday 1 November, five days before the very first Christmas market opens. During the tournament you’ll find an autumn city, not yet dressed for Christmas. Here’s how to choose your window, which ticket to buy, what you can safely say about the player field (Jannik Sinner stays in the conditional) and how to plan a trip from London without getting the calendar wrong.
Tennis in late October, markets in early November: choose your window
The calendar leaves no room for doubt. According to the tournament’s official website, the Erste Bank Open runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026. According to the Vienna Tourist Board, the first Christmas markets open on 6 November. The table sums up the two windows.
| Window 1: tennis | Window 2: markets | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | Sat 24 October to Sun 1 November | From Fri 6 November (Schönbrunn, Stephansplatz), from Fri 13 November (Rathausplatz and most of the others) |
| What you’ll see | An indoor ATP 500, the city in autumn | Wooden huts, punch, ice rink, festive lights |
| What isn’t there | No Christmas market open | No tournament matches |
| Ideal weekend | Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November: quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals | Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November, or 13 to 15 November for the big market |
There are two honest options: pick a single window, or take two separate trips. A stay stretching from 1 to 6 November has no tennis appeal, since the tournament is over. For the markets themselves, our guide to Vienna’s 2026 Christmas markets and their imperial experiences covers everything: this article stays focused on the tennis.
Window 1: the Erste Bank Open, 24 October to 1 November
The tournament has been played at the Wiener Stadthalle since 1974, according to vienna.at. In 2025 it broke its attendance record with 82,000 spectators, thanks to a second venue, the Marx Halle, the organisers say. The announced schedule, subject to change: qualifying on 24 and 25 October, main draw from Monday 26, quarter-finals on Friday 30, semi-finals on Saturday 31, and the singles and doubles finals on Sunday 1 November at 11:30am.
Worth knowing before you fix your dates
- Clocks go back: on the night of 24 to 25 October, clocks go back an hour in both Austria and the UK, so Vienna stays one hour ahead of London. You get an extra hour in bed, but it can shift your arrival if you fly on the Sunday morning.
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday 1 November is also a public holiday in Austria. Shops and supermarkets are closed on finals day.
- Competition: the Swiss Indoors in Basel is played on the same dates, according to MySwitzerland. Players have to choose, so withdrawals are possible.
Between tennis sessions, a free morning is well spent at the table. This small-group food tour winds through cafés, markets and street food. I checked departures across your window on 6 October: dates are open on Saturday 24 and from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October, but I found none on 25 and 26 October or on 1 November. Check the start time when you book so it doesn’t clash with your first match.
Erste Bank Open 2026 tickets: where to buy, how much, and the pitfalls
Official shop, dynamic pricing, no refunds
Official ticketing goes through Wien Ticket (Emotion Group), linked from the tournament website. According to the official FAQ, a ticket is valid for the whole day: it gives access to all the matches on the day’s centre court, and you can leave and re-enter thanks to the scan at the gate.
On price, only one figure is certain: €25 for the Marx Halle Ground ticket, according to the official page. At the Stadthalle, the organisers say the price is updated every day for each category, depending on demand. I couldn’t find any published official price list: check the day’s price in the shop. For indication only, unofficial guides based on earlier editions quote early rounds from around €25 and finals between €80 and €200. Don’t treat those figures as a 2026 price list.
The rules that matter
- Resale: only through the official portal. Steer clear of third-party platforms, which I don’t recommend.
- Children: a ticket is required from age 6; up to age 5, a seat on a lap costs €6 at the box office.
- Bags: A4 size at most (30 × 21 × 21 cm), no rucksacks or suitcases. Free left luggage on the forecourt, and the cloakroom is compulsory for coats.
- Transport: tickets marked « Gilt auch als Fahrschein » double as a Wiener Linien travel ticket, from two hours before to six hours after the start, according to vienna.at.
Wiener Stadthalle or Marx Halle: which venue should you pick?
The tournament is split across two venues. The Stadthalle (Roland-Rainer-Platz 1, 15th district) hosts the centre court of about 9,000 seats and the top-level matches. The Marx Halle (Karl-Farkas-Gasse 19, 3rd district), a former St. Marx cattle hall, is open from 24 to 31 October from 11am with two match courts, two practice courts open to the public, entertainment and food, according to the official website.
| Wiener Stadthalle | Marx Halle | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | 24 October to 1 November | 24 to 31 October (not 1 November) |
| Price | Changes daily, check in the shop | €25 for the day, €69 family ticket |
| Best for | Seeing the strongest matches, the finals | Atmosphere, public practice sessions, tight budgets |
| Getting there | U6 to Burggasse-Stadthalle or Urban-Loritz-Platz; trams 6, 18, 9, 49; bus 48A | U3 to Schlachthausgasse (Markhofgasse exit) or Erdberg; trams 18 and 71; S-Bahn St. Marx |
| Avoid | Driving at the weekend, parking is difficult | Counting on the stars: the practice schedule isn’t published |
The travel details come from vienna.at and the tournament website. The final is played at the Stadthalle: if you’re coming for it, the Marx Halle won’t do. If you’re coming for the atmosphere and don’t want to spend more, it’s plenty. To stay near the Stadthalle, our guide to where to stay near the Wiener Stadthalle describes the neighbourhoods (written for Eurovision, so its peak prices don’t apply to tennis).
Which day for which kind of fan?
The schedule is published subject to change, and the draw takes place on the opening weekend: no specific match is known today. Here’s how to choose without promising a line-up.
| Days | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 24 and Sun 25 Oct | Qualifying from 1pm; Sunday is Super Fan Day, with Dominic Thiem as host | A first taste, relaxed atmosphere, families |
| Mon 26 to Thu 29 Oct | Main draw; the 26th is Austria’s national day and Next Gen Day | Lots of matches on one ticket, midweek trips |
| Fri 30 Oct | Quarter-finals | High level with less pressure than the weekend |
| Sat 31 Oct | Semi-finals, wheelchair tournament finals (Halloween) | A full sporting weekend |
| Sun 1 Nov | Singles and doubles finals from 11:30am, trophy ceremony | The high point, but shops are shut (All Saints’ Day) |
Times and entertainment come from the official programme page. Sources differ slightly on the detail of the midweek rounds, so I’m sticking to the general pattern: qualifying at the weekend, main draw midweek, quarter-finals on Friday, semi-finals on Saturday, finals on Sunday.
Vienna in late October: what’s open around the tennis
An autumn city, without the Christmas decorations
If you travel in window 1, here’s what fills the hours without a match. I only write what I could cross-check.
- Monday 26 October, national day: many museums are traditionally free that day, according to vienna.at. This information relates to previous years: the 2026 programme hadn’t been published on 6 October, so expect crowds as well.
- Heurigen: the wine taverns of Grinzing, Nussdorf, Neustift or Stammersdorf open mostly in the late afternoon. The Sturm season is winding down, but Martinigansl, the roast goose of St Martin’s, is on menus until the end of November.
- State Opera: standing places are available for €4 to €7 according to the official price list. Check the programme for your evening before counting on it.
- Sunday 1 November, All Saints’ Day: shops are closed and cemeteries are very busy, notably the Zentralfriedhof. Plan your lunch ahead.
Vienna’s Christmas markets: what opens, and when
Window 2: from 6 November, then the big market on the 13th
The dates come from Vienna Tourism. The Schönbrunn market runs from 6 November to 6 January 2027, from 10am to 9pm until 23 December. The Stephansplatz market opens the same day and closes on 26 December, from 11am to 9pm. The market on Rathausplatz, with its Eistraum ice rink, opens on Friday 13 November from 10am to 10pm. Most neighbourhood markets (Spittelberg, Am Hof, Karlsplatz) also start from 13 or 14 November. For the opening hours of those I haven’t mentioned, check wien.info: sources differ.
If Christmas atmosphere is your priority, the weekend of 6 to 8 November gives you two quieter markets, before the December crush. The 13 to 15 November weekend gives you the big market and the ice rink. To plan your visit, see our 12 imperial experiences to combine with Schönbrunn.
Getting there from London, and the budget for a tennis weekend for two
From London, flying is the simplest option: British Airways and Austrian Airlines fly direct from Heathrow, and easyJet from Gatwick, with Stansted also served, for a flight time of around 2 hours 25 minutes, according to flightsfrom.com. Check the schedules for your dates, as routes and frequencies change by season. Going by rail, the usual route is Eurostar to Brussels, then the Nightjet sleeper to Vienna, which doesn’t run every night: check the timetable before you book. The direct Paris-Vienna night train, which Eurostar passengers used to connect to, was withdrawn on 14 December 2025, according to Euronews. Our detailed options are in Vienna by train: every option by city.
| Item | Benchmark | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Flight London-Vienna, return | Varies widely by date and airport (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted) | No reliable benchmark: compare on the day you book |
| Airport to city centre | S7 around €5.50; CAT €14.90 in 16 min | Secondary sources, to be checked |
| Tennis ticket | €25 (Marx Halle); Stadthalle variable | Official for the Marx Halle |
| Local transport | About €9.70 for a 24-hour pass; your ticket doubles as a travel ticket on match day | Secondary sources, to be checked |
| Meals | Lunch €12 to €25; dinner €25 to €60 | Indicative |
| Hotel | Highly variable by date and neighbourhood | Compare on the day you book |
A general travel guide puts the daily budget excluding flights at €90 to €130 per person for a budget trip, and €150 to €250 mid-range, according to The Better Vacation. The Vienna City Card starts at around €19 for 24 hours according to the official website, but as the options changed in 2026, check them before buying: with your tennis ticket doubling as a travel ticket, it isn’t always worth it. Book your hotel early for the weekend of 30 and 31 October and for the 26th, a public holiday. British passport holders need a valid passport for Austria, which is part of the Schengen Area. ETIAS, the EU’s new travel authorisation, is expected to launch from late 2026 with a transition period, so check gov.uk entry requirements before you go.
Practical info for your stay in Vienna
Many UK mobile plans no longer include free roaming in the EU, so check yours. If it caps your data, an eSIM avoids nasty surprises when you need to show your e-ticket at the gate. Compare the options in our 2026 eSIM comparison.
Europe or Austria data plans, depending on length of stayTickets are neither refundable nor exchangeable, so cover for your trip and your health abroad is worth having. A UK GHIC covers state healthcare in Austria, but not a missed trip. Our travel insurance comparison details the cover on offer.
Online quoteFrequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Erste Bank Open?
From Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, at the Wiener Stadthalle and the Marx Halle (24 to 31 October). The finals take place on 1 November at 11:30am, subject to change, according to the official website.
Are Vienna’s Christmas markets open during the tournament?
No. The first markets (Schönbrunn and Stephansplatz) open on Friday 6 November 2026, after the finals on 1 November. The Rathausplatz market opens on 13 November, according to Vienna Tourism.
How much is an Erste Bank Open ticket?
A Marx Halle Ground ticket costs €25 for the day. At the Stadthalle, the price changes every day and by category: it is shown in the official shop, with no published price list. Official FAQ.
Where can I buy tickets safely, and can I get a refund?
From the official Wien Ticket (Emotion Group) shop, linked from the tournament website. Tickets can be neither exchanged nor refunded; resale goes through the official ticket management portal.
Will Jannik Sinner play in Vienna?
He is billed as defending champion, but the ATP Tour said he was returning from a knee injury in mid-September. His presence isn’t guaranteed: check the official entry list before buying. ATP Tour.
Marx Halle or Wiener Stadthalle: which should I choose?
The Marx Halle (€25) offers two match courts, public practice sessions and entertainment, but not the finals. The Stadthalle hosts the centre court and the strongest matches.
How do I get to the Wiener Stadthalle?
By U6 metro to Burggasse-Stadthalle or Urban-Loritz-Platz, by tram 6, 18, 9 or 49, or by bus 48A. Tickets marked « Gilt auch als Fahrschein » double as a travel ticket on match day, according to vienna.at.
Can I bring children and a rucksack?
A ticket is required from age 6; up to age 5, a seat on a lap costs €6. Rucksacks are banned: only bags up to A4 size are allowed in, with free left luggage on the forecourt.
How do I get from London to Vienna?
By air, with direct flights of around 2 hours 25 minutes from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. By rail, take Eurostar to Brussels then the Nightjet sleeper, which doesn’t run every night. The direct Paris-Vienna night train was withdrawn on 14 December 2025.
Are the shops open on Sunday 1 November?
No. It’s a Sunday and All Saints’ Day, so shops and supermarkets are closed. Sort your lunch out before the final.
Sources
- Erste Bank Open, event information: dates and venues
- Erste Bank Open, official FAQ: tickets, bags, children
- Erste Bank Open, 2026 programme: times and themed days
- Erste Bank Open, Marx Halle: prices and access
- Erste Bank Open, 2025 attendance record
- ATP Tour, 2026 player field announcement
- Vienna Tourism, Christmas markets: opening dates
- vienna.at, access and parking
- vienna.at, free museums on the national day (previous years)
- vienna.at, punch price test (2024)
- Vienna City Card
- flightsfrom.com, direct flights London Heathrow-Vienna
- GOV.UK, Austria entry requirements
- Euronews, end of the Paris-Vienna night train
- MySwitzerland, Swiss Indoors Basel
- The Better Vacation, cost of a trip to Vienna
- Vienna State Opera, standing place prices
Information checked on 6 October 2026. Schedule, player field and prices may change: confirm them with the organisers before booking.
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