Wimbledon 2026 Weather: What to Expect at SW19 from 29 June to 12 July

Wimbledon 2026 runs from Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in SW19. Around 500,000 spectators pass through the gates over the fortnight, most of them at the mercy of whatever the late June and early July weather decides to do. The Championships sit in the warmest, brightest stretch of the British calendar on paper. In practice the fortnight has produced 35C heat stress on Centre Court, four-hour rain delays on Court 18, and a Wednesday in 2025 that gave us both inside six hours.

This guide pulls together what the last week of June and the first half of July typically deliver in southwest London, what each phase of the fortnight has actually done in recent years, and what to pack so the queue, Henman Hill, and the long walk back to Southfields station all stay enjoyable.

When Is Wimbledon 2026?

The official Wimbledon Championships dates for 2026 are 29 June to 12 July, a 14-day fortnight with the men's singles final on the closing Sunday.

The grounds open from 10am, play on the outside courts usually starts at 11am, and Centre Court warms up from 1.30pm. A spectator on a typical day is on site for six to eight hours, much of it on grass banks, queues, or open walkways without overhead shelter.

Typical Late June and Early July Weather in SW19

Wimbledon sits in the urban heat island of southwest London. The Kew climate station nearby gives a fair read on what the All England Club site does, with a small upward bias because the Wimbledon site is leafier and slightly higher than the Thames-side stations. Met Office climate averages from the UK long-term averages dataset for the last week of June and the first two weeks of July give the picture below.

The middle case is comfortable: a 23C afternoon, broken cloud, a quick passing shower that the covers handle in 10 minutes, and a long evening light that sees you back to the station before the streetlights come on. The tails of the distribution are where Wimbledon's weather drama actually lives.

What Wimbledon Has Actually Done

The fortnight has produced some memorable extremes in recent Championships.

• 2025: Brutally hot opening week. Centre Court touched 34C on the first Monday, the hottest opening day in the tournament's history, with St John Ambulance treating dozens of heat cases on Henman Hill. The second week cooled to a fresher 22 to 25C.
• 2024: Damp and slow. Rain disrupted Friday play in week one, the courts rode soft early, and the second Sunday final stayed dry but humid.
• 2023: Mixed. A wet middle weekend that wiped out part of the outside court schedule, then a settled second week with highs of 26 to 28C.
• 2022: Hot and dry. Largely uninterrupted, with grass that turned the trademark golden brown by the semi-finals.
• 2019: Cool and showery. Highs only 19 to 21C across most of the fortnight, more brolly than Pimm's.

Across the last seven Championships, two were notably hot, two were notably wet, and three sat in the middle. So when you pack, plan for the middle and carry one tool for each tail.

Week by Week: First Week, Middle Sunday, Second Week

The fortnight is not climatologically uniform. Late June and early July sit either side of a small statistical step in the British year.

First week (29 June to 5 July)

The first week leans slightly cooler and showerier on average than the second. Atlantic fronts late in June often clear early in the Championships, leaving the back half of the first week brighter. Pack for 21 to 24C with a real chance of a shower on at least two of the seven days. The Queue on the Wimbledon Park golf course is exposed: a light layer and a foldable mat are worth their weight by 6am.

Middle Sunday (5 July)

Since 2022 the middle Sunday has been a full play day rather than the historic rest day. It tends to be one of the most attended single days of the Championships, with round-of-16 matches across the show courts. Statistically the first weekend of July is a little brighter than the last weekend of June, but the spread is wide.

Second week (6 July to 12 July)

The second week leans warmer, drier, and brighter on average. By the quarter-finals the courts have usually dried out from any first-week rain, and the grass takes on its traditional patchy, worn look. Saturday and Sunday finals weekends sit in the warmest stretch of the calendar: average highs of 22 to 25C, with the highest tail at 30C plus.

How the Weather Changes the Day at Wimbledon

Hot and sunny

Anything over 27C at SW19 turns a day on the outside courts into a hydration project. Henman Hill, the queue, and the walkways have minimal shade. Centre Court and No.1 Court both have retractable roofs that close for play continuity rather than for shade, so they do not help spectators in the rest of the grounds. The Met Office's heat health alert system is worth checking the morning of your visit. Bring a refillable water bottle: there are free water refill points around the grounds.

Mild and overcast

The classic Wimbledon day. Comfortable for spectators, soft light that flatters the green and purple of the brand, and grass that holds its bounce. Most of the photographs you see in the broadcasts come from days like this.

Rain

A wet Wimbledon is not a write-off, but it changes the experience significantly. Centre Court and No.1 Court close their roofs and play continues in front of around 27,000 ticketholders combined. The other 15 or so courts pause. The pinch points are the gravel paths, the long queues for the show court re-entry points, and the walk back to Wimbledon and Southfields stations. A small folding umbrella that meets the grounds' bag-size limits is the unsung hero of a damp Thursday.

Wind

Wind under 15mph rarely affects play. Above 25mph it starts to affect the toss and the higher serves, especially on the outside courts where wind shear off the trees adds turbulence. Strong gusts above 35mph can suspend play on the outside courts even in dry weather.

A Word on the Roof

Centre Court got a retractable roof in 2009. No.1 Court got one in 2019. Both close for either heavy rain or to ensure play finishes before the 11pm noise curfew imposed by Merton Council. When the roof closes, the court switches to an indoor environment with controlled temperature and humidity. That changes the ball's behaviour: it travels a touch faster off the racquet and the air feels heavier underfoot. Players have varied views; spectators almost universally enjoy it.

Crucially, the roof is on two courts out of 18. If you have a Court 18 ticket, you are at the weather's mercy.

What to Pack for Wimbledon 2026

A practical kit list based on watching the Championships across hot, cool, and wet years.

Always pack:

• A foldable umbrella that fits the grounds' bag size limit
• A refillable water bottle
• SPF 30 or higher in a small tube
• A light layer for the queue at 5am or the evening on Henman Hill
• Cash or contactless for the strawberries and the towel queue

For a hot day (over 26C forecast):

• Wide-brim hat or cap that actually shades the face
• An extra 500ml of water for the queue
• A cooling neck wrap or small wet towel
• Closed-toe shoes you have walked in before; the journey is longer than it looks

For a wet day (rain in the morning forecast):

• A packable waterproof rather than just an umbrella; the walkways are tight
• Wellington boots are a step too far, but waxed leather or breathable trainers handle puddles
• A microfibre towel for the seats on Henman Hill if you plan to sit
• A waterproof phone pouch if you queue for hours

For an evening match:

• A second layer; SW London cools by 4 to 6C after sunset
• A small backup snack; the food kiosks slow down after 8pm
• A torch on your phone for the walk through Wimbledon Park

Planning Your Day Around the Forecast

A few practical pointers based on watching SW19 weather for several Championships.

Check the morning forecast at 7am on the day. Anything beyond a week is educated guesswork in this part of the country. The 7am check tells you whether to add the second layer, swap leather for canvas, or stuff the waterproof in the bag. The Met Office regional forecast gives an hourly breakdown that maps cleanly to session times.

Arrive early on a hot day. The Queue can stretch hours, and the walk in from Southfields station is a 15-minute trek in full sun. Get there at 9am, hydrate before you go in, and reapply SPF in line with your watch alarms.

Arrive on time on a wet day. Public transport runs slower in rain across south London, and the bag check queues lengthen as covers come on and off. Build in 20 extra minutes. The District line at Southfields gets uncomfortably crowded between showers.

Watch the second-week thunderstorm risk. If the first week has been hot, the back half of the second week can break into thundery instability. Centre Court and No.1 Court keep playing under the roof; the outside courts can pause for 30 to 90 minutes while covers cycle.

Plan your travel with Transport for London. Southfields on the District line is the quietest approach. Wimbledon on the District and South Western Railway is the busier one. Buses 493 and 200 also serve the All England Club gates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Wimbledon play in the rain?

Centre Court and No.1 Court continue under their retractable roofs in any rain. The other 16 courts pause as soon as rain affects play and resume when the covers come off and the grass is dry. A serious mid-match delay can run from 20 minutes to several hours depending on the rain. Tickets are not refunded for delays unless play on your specific court is fully abandoned.

What is the hottest Wimbledon on record?

The Championships have run in temperatures over 35C on multiple recent occasions. The 2025 opening Monday set a record for the hottest first day at 34C on Centre Court. Several days in the 2018 and 2019 fortnights exceeded 30C. Heat protocols include extended breaks for players in extreme heat, additional shaded waiting areas for spectators, and increased medical staffing.

How long is the Queue typically?

Same-day grounds passes are released to the Queue throughout the day. In the first week the Queue can stretch to several thousand by mid-morning, with waits of three to seven hours for a grounds pass. In the second week, with smaller fields and tighter security on remaining show court tickets, the Queue is shorter for grounds passes but Centre and No.1 Court re-sale queues can run hours.

What happens to play in a thunderstorm?

Outside courts are suspended at the first sign of lightning. Centre Court and No.1 Court continue under the roof, with the closure decision made by the referee. Spectators on outside courts are directed to covered areas. The grounds rarely fully close; the all-time precedents are localised flooding rather than lightning.

How does Wimbledon weather compare to Royal Ascot?

The two events sit 13 days apart and both fall in the warmest stretch of the British calendar. Royal Ascot (16 to 20 June 2026) typically averages a touch warmer than Wimbledon's opening week. The shower risk is similar, and both have a real chance of a thundery breakdown on a hot final weekend. See our Royal Ascot 2026 weather guide for the mid-June picture and our summer solstice 2026 guide for the broader late June outlook.

Is the dress code at Wimbledon strict?

For players, yes: the all-white rule is famously rigorous. For spectators there is no dress code at all. People turn up in summer dresses, shorts and t-shirts, or full smart casual depending on which enclosure or hospitality area they are in. Comfort, sun protection, and rain-resilience matter far more than smartness.

The Bottom Line

Late June and early July in SW19 tilts warm, mostly dry, and reasonably bright, but Wimbledon has handled everything from 34C heat to four-hour rain delays inside the last few years. Pack for the middle case at 23C with broken cloud, plan around the morning forecast on the day, and treat a folding brolly, a water bottle, and SPF as standard kit even when the fortnight looks settled. The roof keeps Centre Court playing; the outside courts are at the mercy of the sky.

Whether you are queueing from dawn for a grounds pass, sitting on Henman Hill with strawberries, or watching the men's final from a Centre Court resale, the question worth asking before you leave the house is the same one we ask every day: do I need a brolly? Check your specific corner of London in one tap at doineedabrolly.co.uk.