The Aruba Beach Tennis Open is the largest beach tennis tournament in the world, and in 2026 it runs the week of November 8 to 15 at Bushiri Beach near Oranjestad.
It draws more than 1,200 players from over 40 countries across roughly 47 courts, with both professional and amateur divisions.
Beach tennis is one of those island things that starts as curiosity and turns into a habit. It’s played on sand with a paddle over a raised net, somewhere between tennis and volleyball, and Aruba has become one of its world capitals.
The Aruba Beach Tennis Open is the peak of that scene. What began as a modest local event has grown into the biggest tournament in the sport, and it takes over a whole stretch of beach for a week each November.
When the Aruba Beach Tennis Open happens in 2026
The 2026 edition runs the week of Sunday, November 8 through Sunday, November 15, at Bushiri Beach along L.G. Smith Boulevard, just outside Oranjestad and about a ten-minute drive from the airport.
The amateur and club divisions fill the early days, and the professional main draw and finals land in the closing stretch of the week.
The scale is what surprises people. Organizers set up around 47 courts on the sand, with grandstand seating for about 1,500 fans, and the event has drawn more than 1,200 players from over 40 countries in recent years.
What actually happens over the week
The Open isn’t one match, it’s a whole festival of play. Divisions run from world-class professionals chasing the prize money down to amateurs and locals who signed up for the fun of it.
The simple shape of the week: the early days lean toward amateur and club-level divisions and build the crowd, the later rounds bring the elite professional matches and finals, and music, food stalls, and a beach-party atmosphere run alongside the play the whole time.
Recent editions have carried a six-figure prize purse, around US$100,000, which pulls in serious international talent. For spectators, that means top-level sport with your feet in the sand and a drink in hand.
How beach tennis took hold here
Beach tennis found a natural home on Aruba, and it’s easy to see why. The island has warm water, steady sun, and wide flat beaches for most of the year, which is close to ideal for a sport played barefoot on sand.
Over time a local scene grew around it, with regular play, clubs, and coaching that carry on long after the tournament packs up. The Open is the headline, but the sport is a year-round part of life here.
That local depth is part of why the event runs so smoothly at this scale. The people organizing and playing aren’t visitors to the sport, they live it.
Why Bushiri Beach
The Open didn’t start at Bushiri. It grew up at Moomba Beach, moved to the wider sands of Eagle Beach as the crowds grew, and settled at Bushiri in 2019, partly to give the sea turtles that nest along Eagle Beach room to do it undisturbed. I like that the island chose the turtles.
Bushiri sits along the calm western coast between Oranjestad and the airport, which makes it easy to reach and easy to enjoy. It’s close to town, backed by hotels, and wide and flat, which is exactly what dozens of courts and thousands of spectators need.
For residents, the location means you can drop by after work and catch a few matches without making a day of it. That easy access is part of why the event has become a local fixture.
Playing, or watching
You don’t have to be a professional to be part of this. The amateur divisions are genuinely open, and plenty of visitors plan a trip around playing rather than just watching.
If you’d rather spectate, entry to watch is easy and the atmosphere is friendly. Come earlier in the day for shade and lighter crowds, or later for the finals energy, bring sun protection and water, and give yourself time to wander the courts.
November is a popular stretch on the island, so book accommodation ahead, and confirm the exact schedule and any ticketing with the organizer close to the dates.
What a week like this says about island life
I include an event like this https://www.arubabeachtennisopen.com because it answers a question buyers ask me constantly, which is what people actually do here once the novelty of the beach wears off. The honest answer is that life on Aruba is active and outdoors.
Beach tennis, windsurfing, running, diving, and morning swims aren’t vacation activities here, they’re how a lot of residents live. An island that hosts the world’s biggest beach tennis tournament is an island where staying fit happens outside, year round.
That texture matters when you’re choosing a home. Living near the water isn’t only about the view, it’s about the way it pulls you outside every day.
If you are coming for it
November is a lovely time to be on Aruba, warm and dry, and the Open pairs well with a few slower days to see the island beyond the courts. If watching a week like this leaves you daydreaming about a place of your own within walking distance of the sand, that’s a familiar feeling, and I’m always happy to talk about what living here could look like whenever you’re ready.
🌴 Bo kas, bo estilo di bida.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Aruba Beach Tennis Open in 2026?
The Aruba Beach Tennis Open is scheduled to run from November 8 to November 15, 2026, over the full week at Bushiri Beach near Oranjestad. The professional main draw and finals fall in the closing days of the week. Confirm the exact schedule with the organizer close to the dates.
Where is the Aruba Beach Tennis Open held?
The tournament takes place at Bushiri Beach along L.G. Smith Boulevard, just outside Oranjestad and about a ten-minute drive from Queen Beatrix International Airport. Recent editions set up around 47 courts on the sand.
How big is the Aruba Beach Tennis Open?
It is the largest beach tennis tournament in the world, drawing more than 1,200 players from over 40 countries, with both professional and amateur divisions. Recent editions featured around 47 courts, seating for about 1,500 spectators, and a six-figure prize purse.
Can amateurs play in the Aruba Beach Tennis Open?
Yes. Alongside the professional divisions, the Aruba Beach Tennis Open includes amateur and club-level categories that are open to visitors and locals, so many people plan a trip around playing rather than only watching.
Updated: September 2026 | Aruba Lifestyle Realty | Brad Croes and Ellen Aartsen