What to Wear to the Australian Open: A Men's Guide to Melbourne Park
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Wear a loose linen shirt in a light colour, shorts or light trousers, a hat with a brim and shoes you can walk in all day, then pack one thin layer for the evening. There is no dress code at the Australian Open, so the real rules come from the Melbourne sun, the cool change and how long you will be on your feet.
I am Gian Piero. I make linen shirts in Napoli, and January in Melbourne reminds me of August at home, with one difference. In Napoli the heat stays for weeks. In Melbourne it can leave halfway through a match. This guide covers the 2027 dates, day sessions, night sessions, ground pass versus arena seats, and what goes in your bag.
The 2027 dates and the dress code
The Australian Open 2027 starts with Opening Week from Monday 11 to Saturday 16 January. The main draw begins on Sunday 17 January, and the finals weekend is Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January, all at Melbourne Park.
There is no dress code for spectators. Nobody checks your collar at the gate. Stand in the gate queue at ten in the morning on the first Sunday of the main draw and you could be next to a bloke in footy shorts and a singlet, a couple in matching tennis whites and a man in a pressed shirt and loafers. All of them get in.
So the question is not what you are allowed to wear. It is what you can stand to wear for eight hours in the sun, and whether it still works after dark.
Day sessions: heat, sun and shade
Melbourne in January can be properly hot. In January 2022 the Bureau of Meteorology's Melbourne (Olympic Park) station recorded a mean daily maximum of 29.1°C. In January 2020 the same station hit 42.9°C on the 31st. A monthly mean hides the spikes, and the hot days are the ones you dress for.
Picture a 2pm match on an outside court. No roof, the sun high overhead, and a cold drink going warm in your hand inside ten minutes. That is where clothing choices show.
- Loose and light. A shirt that sits off the body lets air move. Here is why linen keeps you cool. Pale blues, sand, white and soft pinks reflect more of the sun. A navy or black shirt looks sharp in photos but soaks up more heat.
- Sleeves you can roll down. Short sleeves feel good until your forearms burn. A long-sleeve linen shirt rolled to the elbow gives you the choice.
- A hat with a brim. Bucket hat or a wide cap. Nothing so big it blocks the row behind you.
- Sunnies and sunscreen. Sunscreen is allowed in, so reapply through the day. Do the back of your neck and your ears.
Shade helps. Melbourne Park says there are shaded seating areas and raised viewing platforms across the grounds, and that the shade structure at Grand Slam Oval is tripling in size. Bring a sealed water bottle. Free drinking water has been available around the grounds in recent years, so refill often.
Night sessions and the cool change
Rod Laver Arena night sessions have been scheduled to start at 7pm, and they can run very late. In 2024 Daniil Medvedev finished a second-round match at about 3:40am. If you have a night ticket, plan for a late finish.
The bigger issue is the cool change. In Melbourne a cool change is a cold front that swaps hot northerly winds for much cooler southwesterlies. In January 2021 Bureau of Meteorology forecasters warned temperatures could drop by as much as 10 to 15 degrees inside an hour once a change came through. Go back to January 2020 and you see the same swing across a single month. Olympic Park topped out at just 16.7°C on the 5th, then reached 42.9°C on the 31st. Same month, same city.
Imagine the fifth set at 1am. The roof is open, a cold wind comes over the top of the stands and half the crowd is pulling on jumpers they nearly left at home. The other half is in singlets, shivering.
For a night session I would wear a long-sleeve linen shirt buttoned to the wrist, linen trousers rather than shorts, and carry a thin knit or overshirt in the bag. If rain comes, play continues under the retractable roofs at Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena. Play on the outside courts stops.
Ground pass or Rod Laver Arena seats
A ground pass and an arena ticket are different days out, and they ask for different clothes.
A ground pass gets you the outside courts, practice sessions, the big screens and Grand Slam Oval, plus John Cain Arena when there is room. You walk a lot, you stand three deep at a practice court, and you sit on whatever is free. Think comfort and sun first. For 2027 the number of ground passes sold each day is capped for the first time, so buy ahead rather than hoping for one on the day. You can also scan out at the gates for a pass-out and come back the same day, which helps if you want to change for the evening.
An arena ticket gives you a reserved seat in Rod Laver, Margaret Court or John Cain Arena. Less walking, but with the roof open you can sit in direct sun for a whole match. Long sleeves and a hat matter more here, not less.
| Ticket | Shirt | Bottoms | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground pass, day | Pale linen shirt, sleeves rolled | Shorts or drawstring linen pants | Brimmed hat, sunnies, walking shoes, sealed bottle |
| Arena seat, day | Light linen shirt you can button to the wrist | Light trousers or tailored shorts | Hat, sunscreen on the neck and ears |
| Night session | Darker linen shirt, long sleeves | Linen trousers | Thin knit or overshirt in the bag |
Shoes, hats and the bag
Melbourne Park's own guide says you can bring small bags, hats, sunscreen and sealed water bottles, plus food and non-alcoholic drinks in sealed containers. The full list sits in the Ticket Conditions of Sale and Entry, and it is worth reading before you go. Keep the bag small, as the rules ask.
Shoes are where a long day goes wrong. Thongs are fine for the beach. For a full day on paths and stairs, wear sneakers or canvas shoes you have already broken in. New loafers will hurt by the third match.
In recent years the 70 and 70a trams have run direct to Melbourne Park. Picture one at 6pm, packed with sunburnt fans heading in for the night session. The man with a knit tied to his bag is the one who planned ahead.
What goes in the bag:
- Sealed water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Sunnies and a brimmed hat
- A thin knit or overshirt for after dark
- Phone charger, because you will film the tiebreak
What I would wear from Santoli
Our shirts are cut and sewn in Napoli, a city that knows a long hot day. The Positano Capsule is a men's Italian collar shirt in 100% Italian linen at 180 GSM, made in small runs across 13 colourways, and it is A$199 in Australia. Linen lets air move through the weave and dries fast when you sweat, which is why it suits a day in the stands.
- Cielo is a strong midday sky blue. My pick for a ground pass day. It is not a pale blue, but it is far lighter than navy and it looks right with shorts.
- Pescatore is a heathered, worn blue, close to chambray. It sits halfway between day and night, so it suits a ticket that starts mid-arvo and ends late.
- Midnight Blue is for the night session. The honest trade-off is that a dark shirt absorbs more sun, so I would not choose it for a 1pm match on an outside court.
- Pair any of them with something from our linen drawstring pants for the evening.
The catch is simple. Linen wrinkles. After six hours sitting in a stand your shirt will be creased across the front and the back. That is real linen, and it softens with every wash. Machine wash cold, hang dry.
Sizes run M, L, XL and 2XL in a relaxed tailored fit, close through the shoulder. If you sit between sizes, size up, and our sizing guide for Australian men covers the conversion. Orders ship from Florida within one business day and usually reach Australia in 7 to 10 business days, so order well before the holiday break. GST is collected at checkout and there is no duty on orders under A$1,000, so nothing extra is due at the door. Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery, with return postage paid by you. Bundles apply automatically: 10% off three or more shirts, 15% off five or more and 20% off seven or more.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a dress code at the Australian Open?
No. There is no dress code for spectators at the Australian Open. Dress for the heat in the day, a possible cool change in the evening and a lot of walking.
Can men wear shorts to the Australian Open?
Yes. With no dress code, shorts are a normal sight at Melbourne Park, especially on a ground pass. For a night session, linen trousers are the safer choice because temperatures can drop fast after dark.
What should I wear to an Australian Open night session?
A long-sleeve linen shirt, light trousers and closed shoes, with a thin knit or overshirt in your bag. Night sessions start in the evening and can run late, and a cool change can drop the temperature fast. In January 2021 Bureau of Meteorology forecasters warned of a fall of as much as 10 to 15 degrees inside an hour.
What bag can I bring to the Australian Open?
Melbourne Park says small bags, hats, sunscreen and sealed water bottles are allowed. Check the Ticket Conditions of Sale and Entry before you go for the full list.
When is the Australian Open 2027?
Opening Week runs from Monday 11 to Saturday 16 January 2027. The main draw starts on Sunday 17 January and the finals weekend is Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January.
Is linen a good choice for the Australian Open?
Yes, for the day. Linen breathes and dries fast, and a light colour reflects more sun. The trade-off is creasing. After a full day in the stands it will look lived in.