Wimbledon has announced record-breaking prize money for the 2026 edition amid the lingering dispute over players’ compensation. As players continue their tirade against Grand Slams over prize money, the SW19 has raised its total prize money purse to £64.2 million (approximately $85.8 million), a 20% increase from last year. However, it doesn’t look like the players would be satisfied with this figure either.

This is because the prize money still doesn’t meet the 22% increase in revenue share demand that the players had put forward last year. The increase represents roughly 15% of the revenue generated by the Championships. Likely, the dispute will further move on to the grass swing, and it’s clearly far from over. In comparison, Wimbledon’s total prize pool last year was £53.5 million (approximately $72.7 million).

Aside from the increase in the total purse, Wimbledon has also made a substantial increase in the cash prize that the singles champions will get. Both the men’s and women’s singles champions will receive £3.6 million each (approximately $4.8 million). In comparison, they had received £3 million for winning the title last year.

Another significant increase has been made to the prize money for the qualifiers. The total qualifying purse has been increased by nearly 25%, with the final round losers receiving £50,000 each ($66,772).

“I believe what has been decided this year is the biggest uplift ever in quantum terms,” said Debbie Jevans, the chair of the All England Club, during a press conference. “And we’re proud to be able to do that through how we run the championships in such a sustainable way.”

Wimbledon organizers will be hoping that the increase is satisfactory for the players, or else another media protest could very well be on the cards. The players had done the same at the recently concluded French Open. Players protested after the mere 9.3% increase that was made to the Roland Garros’ total prize purse, when they had asked for 22%.

This resulted in many of them leaving media conferences after just 15 minutes. The protest aimed to pressure the tournaments even further over the prize money dispute. However, it didn’t quite end up working as the Grand Slam decided not to make any increase to the announced prize money.

It is also unlikely that Wimbledon is going to agree to the prize money that the players are demanding. Jevans is firmly against the protest and feels that their demands do not make any sense.

Debbie Jevans left ‘frustrated’ over players’ protest against Grand Slams

“We’ve always been clear that we’re on the side of the players and we want to have a fantastic Wimbledon. But using revenue to determine prize money, it just makes no sense. And we have said that to Larry Scott. Revenue does not take into account the contributions that we give. And as I’ve spoken about, we’re not-for-profit. We’re very different from an ATP Masters 1000 in that everything goes back in the sport,” she stated.

Jevans hopes that the players can grasp a hold of the situation and consider their demands once again, to reach a resolution that works for both parties involved.

“I am frustrated that that message hasn’t gone across, but we have constant dialogue with Larry in this regard. That message will get across to the players to understand the investment back into the game, which is so very, very important, and that allows us to be sustainable and it will do into the future,” she further said.

With the players having previously issued a strong statement after the French Open’s total prize purse was announced, they are expected to do the same in Wimbledon’s case as well.