Wimbledon announces record £64.2 million prize fund for 2026 championships

The All England Lawn Tennis Club announced that the 2026 Wimbledon Championships will feature a record prize fund of £64.2 million (about US$85.7 million), a 20 % increase over the previous year. Winners of the men’s and women’s singles events will each receive £3.6 million, while first‑round losers will collect £80,000, reflecting the tournament’s biggest annual payout growth in its history.

Separately, the tournament’s iconic green‑and‑purple towels, produced by British heritage brand Christy, have become a viral souvenir. Approximately 7,000 towels are stocked for the two‑week event, and players have been noted taking hundreds each day, with champion Iga Świątek famously describing herself as a "towel thief." The towels’ design and production involve a 12‑month lead time and a woven‑yarn technique, and the phenomenon has sparked interest in India, where the towels have gained particular popularity.