LONDON — The WTA Finals, the elite season-ending tournament in women’s professional tennis, is moving this year from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells, California.
The 2026 WTA Finals, which has brackets for the top eight singles players and the top eight doubles teams, is scheduled for Nov. 8-15.
The WTA Tour and Saudi Arabia signed a three-year deal in 2024 to stage the event in Riyadh. The agreement provided a big increase in prize money.
“Following two impactful years of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the WTA requested to move the 2026 WTA Finals to a new host location,” the women’s tour said via a release Wednesday. “The Saudi Tennis Federation accepted WTA’s proposal, and the two organizations mutually agreed on the conclusion of the hosting arrangement and remain proud of the achievements realized through their partnership.”
There were concerns about going back to Saudi Arabia due to military conflicts in the Middle East.
“The saga of the WTA Finals continues,” fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula, a 32-year-old American player, said at Wimbledon. “It’s like we can’t catch a break, and I don’t necessarily think it’s our fault. There just tends to be a lot of world conflicts that seem to happen and get in the way.
“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t quite end in Riyadh on a good note. But, you know, things happen. So I think we just kind of have to go along with that decision. Hopefully I can be there in November.
Indian Wells also hosts the BNP Paribas Open for both women and men from the ATP Tour each March.
“The Indian Wells Tennis Garden provides an exceptional stage for the WTA Finals,” WTA chair Valerie Camillo said in the tour’s release. “From its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women’s tennis.”
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the championship match of last year’s WTA Finals.
Rybakina collected $5.23 million after going 5-0 at the event. The WTA said that was the largest payout in the history of women’s sports. Sabalenka earned $2.7 million as the runner-up.
Prize money for this year was not announced.
Indian Wells will mark the seventh different venue for the WTA Finals since 2018.
“Definitely would like to see a more permanent home for it,” seventh-ranked Coco Gauff, a 22-year-old American player, said at Wimbledon. “Don’t know how long it’s going to be in Indian Wells. I’m assuming just this year. But hopefully eventually we can find, wherever it is, a more permanent home.”
Gauff welcomed the move to the U.S., though.
“It’s going to be weird going to be in Indian Wells in November,” she said. “I’m very curious if we’re going to be playing in the night (or) day. I hope the day, because I feel like it’s going to be a little chilly at night.”
Gauff won the tournament in 2024, its first year in Riyadh.
“I have a great memory in Saudi, playing and winning my title there two years ago. We had a warm reception from them,” Gauff said. “It was the first women’s professional tennis event being held there, so it was really cool just to bring a different demographic.”