WTA Finals to be held in Indian Wells for 2026 season

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Finals will relocate from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Indian Wells, California, for the 2026 season, ending a three-year hosting agreement after only two years. The season-ending championship for the top eight women's singles players and doubles teams is scheduled for November 8-15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The WTA announced the move on Wednesday, July 1, stating it had requested to move the event and that the Saudi Tennis Federation accepted the proposal. The organizations said they mutually agreed to conclude the hosting arrangement and remain proud of the achievements realized through their partnership. The WTA did not cite a specific reason for the change, though geopolitical tensions in the Middle East were referenced by some players as a likely factor.

This shift continues a pattern of instability for the tournament's venue. Since a five-year stint in Singapore ended in 2018, the WTA Finals have been held in Shenzhen, Guadalajara, Fort Worth, Cancun, and Riyadh. Indian Wells, which annually hosts the BNP Paribas Open in March, will now stage the event in an unusual late-year slot.

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