The city prepares for the apex event of its winter season
By mid-February, Delray Beach is no longer easing into peak season—it is fully in stride.
Hotel occupancy reaches capacity. Dinner reservations are locked in days ahead. Valet lines stretch along Atlantic Avenue as day sessions give way to night matches. Across the city, hospitality, retail, and tourism move in sync around one shared focal point: the Delray Beach Open.
Now in its 34th year, the tournament has become one of Delray Beach’s most consequential annual institutions—not simply for its ATP Tour status, but for how completely it activates the city. Over ten days, the Open draws international players, national media attention, and thousands of visitors, concentrating visibility on Delray Beach itself: its infrastructure, its business community, and its ability to host a global sporting event without losing its local rhythm.
What began as a professional tennis tournament has evolved into a defining moment. The Delray Beach Open now functions as a seasonal anchor—driving economic activity, amplifying community engagement, and reinforcing the city’s position as both a destination and a place with operational maturity.
WORLD-CLASS TENNIS, UP CLOSE
On court, the 2026 tournament delivers a field that blends proven stars with the next generation of the sport. Two-time Delray Beach Open champion Taylor Fritz returns in pursuit of a historic third title, bringing top-10 firepower and familiarity with the fast hard courts. Fellow American Tommy Paul, a Boca Raton resident and perennial fan favorite, is also confirmed—his presence reinforcing the tournament’s deep ties to South Florida.
Making his Delray Beach debut, three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud of Norway adds international star power, while rising Americans Learner Tien, Alex Michelsen, and Brandon Nakashima arrive fresh off breakout seasons.
Opening weekend features the tournament’s popular Legends event, welcoming some of the sport’s most iconic names back to the court. Past and returning legends include the Bryan Brothers, Juan Martín del Potro, Tommy Haas, and the Jensen Brothers, to name a few, offering fans a chance to experience tennis history up close.
With its intimate stadium setting, the Delray Beach Open offers proximity to the stars. Fans aren’t watching from afar—they’re close enough to feel the pace of a 130-mile-per-hour serve and the tension of a third-set tiebreak under the lights.
A TOURNAMENT WOVEN INTO THE CITY
Unlike many sporting events that operate within a contained footprint, the Delray Beach Open is deeply embedded in its surroundings. The stadium sits just blocks from Atlantic Avenue, allowing the energy of match play to spill naturally into downtown restaurants, bars, shops, and sidewalks.
During tournament week, the rhythm of the city changes. Morning coffee runs turn into midday tennis sessions. Afternoon matches blend into late lunches and early cocktails. By evening, Atlantic Avenue hums as fans move between Stadium Court and dinner reservations, night matches and after-hours gatherings. The Delray Beach Open doesn’t interrupt Delray Beach’s winter season—it amplifies it.
Ask almost any local business owner and they’ll describe the same pattern: familiar faces mixed with first-time visitors, tables turning later than usual, and a noticeable buzz that lasts well past the final ball of the night session.
BEYOND THE BASELINE: FOOD, WINE, AND SHARED EXPERIENCE
While ATP Tour competition anchors the week, the tournament’s broader impact is shaped by its off-court programming—most notably the Delray Beach Open Food & Wine Series, which runs throughout the event and has become central to how the Delray Beach Open is experienced.
The Food & Wine Series functions as an integrated extension of tournament week rather than a standalone festival. Events are scheduled deliberately around match play, sustaining momentum from day to night through a curated presentation of South Florida’s dining and beverage landscape. Participating partners are selected not for scale alone, but for consistency, reputation, and local relevance.
This year’s lineup features a myriad of noteworthy restaurants and partners, including Delray Beach and regional favorites such as Dada, Deck 84, Farmers Table, Kapow!, Novecento, Warren Delray, The Wine Room Kitchen & Bar, Tin Roof, Geronimo’s Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill, and Driftwood—just to name a few.
They are joined by national and regional beverage partners vary-ing the likes of Caymus Vineyards, Stella Artois, LaCroix, Dano’s Tequila, and American Icon Brewery. (For a full list of participating restaurants and beverage partners across all Food & Wine events, visit https://www.delraybeachopen.com/en/food-and-wine).
SIGNATURE MOMENTS THAT DEFINE THE WEEK
The Food & Wine Series is structured around anchor events that have become fixtures on the winter calendar. The Chamber Bash, produced in partnership with the Delray Beach and Boca Raton Chambers of Commerce, opens the week with a focus on business and civic connection. The Grand Tasting Event follows as a marquee evening, bringing dozens of partners together in one high-energy showcase.
Ladies Day Luncheons continue their long-standing tradition, pairing daytime tennis with dining and social ritual, while evening events like Burgers, Bourbon & Brew; Tacos, Tequila & Tennis; and Game, Set, Pour introduce a participatory edge that mirrors the competitive spirit on court. New to the lineup in 2026 is Serve & Savor: A Taste of Italy, featuring a wide array of Italian cuisine from some of Palm Beach County’s most celebrated Italian restaurants.
CITYWIDE ALIGNMENT, REAL IMPACT
Beyond the stadium, the Delray Beach Open’s footprint extends across Delray Beach through FAN FEST programming, Legends matches, youth tennis initiatives, and downtown activations such as the Window Display Competition, produced in partnership with the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority. Storefronts visually align with the tournament, reinforcing a sense of shared participation across Atlantic Avenue.
“The Delray Beach Open is one of the few events that brings so many sectors of the city into alignment at once,” Baron notes. “Hospitality, retail, restaurants, and tourism all move together during this week—and seeing downtown businesses take part through the window displays adds another layer of energy and creativity.”
That coordination has elevated the Delray Beach Open from a sporting event into an institution, one that plays a measurable role in the city’s seasonal economy and public profile while remaining deeply connected to the community. February marks more than tennis season. It’s the moment when the city fully comes into focus.
Delray Beach is ready to serve. Tickets sell out fast! Available now at https://www.delraybeachopen.com/
