The 154th Open Championship

The 154th Open Championship — Week Schedule

1. July 12, 2026 · Practice rounds / gates open
   The Open’s spectator week opens with practice days at Royal Birkdale.
2. July 13, 2026 · Last-Chance Qualifier
   A 12-player, 18-hole Monday qualifier decides the final place in the field.
3. July 16, 2026 · Round 1
   The 154th Open Championship begins its first competitive round.
4. July 18, 2026 · Round 3 — Moving Day
   The penultimate round sets the leaderboard for the final day.
5. July 19, 2026 · Final round
   The Champion Golfer of the Year is crowned and presented with the Claret Jug.

The 154th Open Championship Weekend Planning Blueprint

A Birkdale Open is an easy trip to plan once you have a ticket and a bed.

1. Sort your tickets first. Most general admission is allocated through The Open’s Ticket Ballot; with the 2026 ballot closed, watch the official face-value resale platform or look at Ticket Plus and hospitality packages.
2. Book accommodation immediately. Hotels and B&Bs in Birkdale village and central Southport sell out fast for Open week — Lord Street puts you close to the course and the evening scene.
3. Plan to arrive by train. Hillside station is a short walk from the spectator entrance, with Southport station and Park & Ride sites as alternatives.
4. Reserve dinner before you travel. Birkdale village restaurants fill early on Championship evenings — book ahead, with central-Southport options as backup.
5. Build the week, not just the weekend. Practice days from July 12 and the Last-Chance Qualifier on July 13 are quieter, cheaper ways to see the course.

Who This Event Fits Best

The 154th Open suits a particular kind of traveller.

• The links-golf purist. You want the real thing — wind off the Irish Sea, fairways between the dunes, a major decided by bounce and judgement. Royal Birkdale is golf the way the Open intends it.
• The major-championship completist. You are working through golf’s four majors, and the Open is the one that demands a passport. A Birkdale year is a strong one to tick off.
• The history-minded fan. You care that the Claret Jug has been the prize since 1872 and that Birkdale’s roll of champions runs from Peter Thomson to Jordan Spieth.
• The British-seaside traveller. You want sport plus a proper town — Lord Street’s Victorian boulevard, Birkdale village pubs, the Promenade, the course minutes away.
• Maybe sit this one out if… you need warm-weather guarantees and a stadium seat. Links golf in July means wind, rain and long days on foot across dunes.

Official Links & Tickets

Official The 154th Open Championship site
Most general-admission tickets are allocated through The Open’s Ticket Ballot via a free One Club account. With the 2026 ballot closed, remaining routes are hospitality, Ticket Plus, accommodation packages and an official face-value resale platform.