The 2026 Australian Open arrives at Wyncity Keon Park in Thomastown, Victoria this Easter weekend – and with it, one of the most storied events in Australian tenpin bowling takes on a new home, and a field loaded with talent ready to make history.

Now in its 50^th edition, the Australian Open is one of the sport’s great landmarks. Dating back to Ken Sheehan’s inaugural victory in 1972, the event has been a proving ground for legends of the game across five decades – and this milestone edition at Wyncity Keon Park promises to be one for the record books.

What’s at Stake? The 2026 Australian Open Champion will take home $4,000, a trophy, and free entry to the 2027 event – the richest individual prize in the Open Division’s domestic ranked season. With a 112-strong field across two squads descending on Thomastown this weekend, the road to the title runs through 31 grueling games across three days.

Event Snapshot

• Event: 2026 Australian Open
• Dates: 3-5 April 2026
• Venue: Wyncity Keon Park, Thomastown, Victoria
• Division: Open
• Status: 2026 TBA National Ranked Event (A26/0127)
• Edition: 50^th Edition – first contested in 1972
• Eligibility: 2026 TBA Registered members

Why this event matters

The 50^th edition of the Australian Open lands at a pivotal moment. Last year’s champion Julian Dinham announced himself as a generational talent with one of the most dominant performances in the event’s history, and the central question heading into Easter weekend is simple: can anyone stop him from going back-to-back?

This is the second Open Division ranked event for the 2026 season after the Kegel QLD Open saw that very bowler take out the crown – Julian Dinham.

Key Storylines to Watch

Dinham: Can He Go Back-to-Back?

Julian Dinham’s 2025 performance was nothing short of extraordinary. The New South Wales bowler led from the opening session, averaging 227.7 across all 31 games, and finished 472 pins clear of runner-up Bernie Grueso Jnr. He then went on to claim the 2025 Melbourne Tenpin Cup, making him a two-time Open Division champion before his 18^th birthday. Now the reigning champion and one of the most dangerous bowlers in the country regardless of age or division, Dinham returns with a target on his back. Back-to-back at the Australian Open would place him among the elite in the event’s 50-year history and help maintain his top ranking after success at the QLD Kegel Open.

Victorian Grueso & Hayes Always a Threat

Bernie Grueso Jnr was runner-up in 2025 and a champion in 2024, delivering the strongest individual matchplay performance on finals day last year – eight wins from nine games – but falling 472 pins short. He remains one of the most complete performers in Australian open division bowling and will be central to the title conversation again. Adam Hayes, a two-time champion (2022, 2023), is also in the field – both Victorian, both with plenty of experience at this bowl, both genuine threats this weekend.

A 50^th Edition Legacy

A title at the 50^th Australian Open would carry extra weight in any bowler’s legacy. The champions list features TBA Hall of Famers, international winners, and some of the finest names Australian bowling has produced. Whoever lifts the trophy on Sunday afternoon writes themselves into a very special chapter of the event’s history – one that already includes Jason Belmonte and three-time champions Sam Cooley, David Porto, and Cara Honeychurch among its roll call.

Format

Day 1 – Friday 3 April

Two squads bowl 8 games each.

• A Squad: check-in by 7:30am, bowl from 8:00am
• C Squad: check-in by 6:30pm, bowl from 7:00pm

Day 2 – Saturday 4 April

Squads complete their 16 games of qualifying

• C Squad: Warm-up from 12:50pm, bowl from 1:00pm
• A Squad: Warm-up from 6:20pm, bowl from 6:30pm

Stage 2 – Day 3 – Sunday 5 April

The top 20 bowl 6 additional games. The top 10 after stage 2 advnce to the Matchplay Finals with pinfall carried.

Matchplay Finals – Sunday 5 April

The top 10 bowl 9 games of matchplay with a bonus system of 20 pins for a win, 10 pins for a draw, and 0 for a loss. The bowler with the highest combined pinfall including bonuses is declared the 2026 Australian Open Champion.

How to follow the event

The 2026 Australian Open runs across Friday 3 to Sunday 5 April at Wyncity Keon park, Thomastown, Victoria. Scoring and results will be available via tenpinresults.com.au.

Past Champions

Multiple-Time Champions

2026 TBA Open Division Rankings Schedule

1. Kegel QLD Open – Completed
2. Australian Open: 3-5 April
3. Melbourne Tenpin Cup: 20-21 June
4. NSW Open: 9-11 October
5. Gunspray Salisbury Open: 7-8 November
6. TBA National Masters: TBD