Roland Garros announced a 9.5% increase in prize money for 2026, marking the highest growth rate in three years at the clay Grand Slam, according to Tennis Majors. The French Tennis Federation highlighted the record total payout and the percentage increase when it released the 2026 figures on 17 April, emphasising that player revenues have grown roughly 89% over five years.
The announcement reflects the tournament's overall financial growth but raises questions about prize distribution equity across all rounds and categories. Grand Slam tournaments typically lead with headline figures when announcing increases, though the underlying structure of how prize money flows to players—particularly those eliminated in early rounds—remains a point of scrutiny within the professional tennis community.
The increase positions Roland Garros among the most generous Grand Slams in terms of year-over-year growth, though the tournament continues to operate within the broader context of rising player demands for fairer compensation across all levels of competition.