National Bank Open Montreal: The Complete Guide to Attending the Tournament

What Is the National Bank Open Montreal?

The National Bank Open is a Masters 1000 tournament on the ATP Tour (men's) and a WTA 1000 event on the WTA Tour (women's). Montreal and Toronto alternate hosting the men's and women's draws each year, which means every second year Montreal hosts the WTA event and every other year it hosts the ATP event. Montreal and Toronto alternate hosting the men's and women's draws each year, which means every second year Montreal hosts the WTA event and every other year it hosts the ATP event. This rotation is worth checking before you buy tickets, since the draw you'll see depends entirely on the year.

It consistently attracts top-ranked players and is one of the most significant tennis tournaments held in North America, sitting just below the four Grand Slams in prestige. The 2026 edition ran from August 1–13 at IGA Stadium, covering qualifying through to the finals across 21 ticketed sessions. Future editions follow roughly the same early-August window, but confirm exact dates with Tennis Canada or the official tournament site before making travel plans.

The Venue: IGA Stadium in Jarry Park

IGA Stadium sits inside Jarry Park at 285 Gary-Carter Street, in the Villeray neighborhood of Montreal. It is a purpose-built tennis facility with a retractable-roof Centre Court, multiple outer courts, and substantial surrounding grounds. The stadium is not a converted multi-use arena — it is designed specifically for tennis, which makes it one of the better spectator experiences on the North American tennis circuit.

The grounds include food and beverage vendors, sponsor activations, practice courts where you can watch players warm up, and fan zones. The Centre Court (sometimes referred to as Rogers Court in past sponsorship eras) holds several thousand spectators and provides a close, clear sightline from most seating areas. Outer courts can be watched from standing areas included with a grounds pass.

Jarry Park itself is a large green space — if you arrive early, it is worth spending time in the surrounding park before gates open. The stadium is a short distance from the Little Italy neighborhood and close to Jean-Talon Market, which makes for a practical combination if you want to eat well before or after a session.

Tickets: What to Buy and What to Expect

The tournament uses a session-based ticketing structure. Sessions are divided into day sessions (typically starting around 11:00 a.m.) and evening sessions (typically starting around 6:00–7:00 p.m.). Your ticket covers a specific session, not unlimited access throughout the day. This is one of the most common points of confusion for first-time attendees: a day session ticket does not let you stay for the evening session.

For the 2026 edition, reserved Centre Court seating was advertised from around C$15 at the low end, with pricing scaling up significantly for later rounds, premium seating, and finals. Free grounds passes were available on select days, providing access to outer courts and the general grounds without reserved seating. These free passes tend to go quickly, so check the official site early in the season.

• Grounds Pass (select days, free or low cost) Access to outer courts and public areas, no reserved seat. Good for casual fans or those primarily interested in the atmosphere and practice sessions.
• Reserved Centre Court Seating Assigned seat for a specific session. Prices vary sharply by round — first-round day sessions are significantly cheaper than quarter-final or semi-final evening sessions.
• Premium and Package Options Full-event packages, hospitality options, and multi-session bundles are available. These are worth considering if you plan to attend four or more sessions, but compare the per-session cost carefully.

Buy tickets through the official National Bank Open ticketing site at NationalBankOpen.com. Third-party resale is common but unregulated in terms of price — early rounds through official channels are genuinely affordable, and there is no strong reason to pay a resale premium for anything other than finals or semi-finals.

Getting to IGA Stadium

IGA Stadium is well-served by Montreal's STM public transit network. Multiple bus routes stop near Jarry Park, and the De Castelnau metro station on the Orange Line is within a short walk of the venue. The STM trip planner at stm.info will give you current route options and any service disruptions. Given August traffic and the concentration of spectators arriving before a popular evening session, transit is genuinely the most practical option.

If you are coming from downtown or Old Montreal, the Orange Line metro is the simplest connection. From the airport (YUL, approximately 20 km from the city centre), you can take the STM 747 bus to downtown and connect from there. Uber operates in Montreal and is a reasonable fallback for late evening departures after a session ends, though surge pricing after a major evening match is common.

• De Castelnau metro station (Orange Line): closest metro stop, roughly 5 minutes' walk to the stadium entrance
• Multiple STM bus routes serve Jarry Park directly — check stm.info for current routes before your visit
• Driving is possible but parking near the venue is limited; expect delays departing after popular sessions
• Arrive 60–90 minutes before your session's first ticketed match — tournament organizers recommend this window for entry, bag checks, and finding your seat
• The venue closes approximately one hour after the final match of the day, so plan return transport accordingly for evening sessions that may end late

Planning Your Visit: Timing, Weather, and What to Bring

The tournament takes place in early August, which is Montreal's warmest period. Average temperatures sit around 22–27°C during the day, though humidity can make it feel hotter on outdoor courts. Evening sessions are generally more comfortable thermally, and the retractable roof on Centre Court provides protection from rain — though it does not fully address heat during day sessions.

Sun protection matters for day sessions on outer courts where there is limited shade. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and water. The venue has food and drink vendors, but queues build quickly before popular matches. Summer in Montreal runs warm and occasionally humid — check the forecast before you go, because outdoor courts can be uncomfortable in direct afternoon sun.

• Bags are subject to security screening — compact bags or small backpacks speed up entry considerably
• Outside food and beverages may be restricted; check the current venue rules on the official site before packing a cooler
• The tournament site has WiFi and phone charging areas in fan zones, useful during long sessions
• Evening sessions can run late — matches scheduled for 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. may not finish until 10:00 p.m. or later if sets are competitive

If you are building a longer Montreal trip around the tournament, early August is one of the city's peak periods. Hotels fill up, and accommodation near the venue books out well in advance. Consider staying in the Plateau, Mile End, or downtown and relying on transit. For a broader look at planning your stay, the guide to where to stay in Montreal covers the main neighborhoods and what each one suits.

Combining the Tournament With Montreal

The National Bank Open runs for nearly two weeks, and unless you are attending every session, you will have significant time to explore the city. Montreal in August is lively: outdoor terraces are full, parks are active, and the city's food scene is at its most accessible. The tournament is an excellent anchor for a 4–7 day trip.

Jarry Park itself is in the northern part of the island, close to Jean-Talon Market and Little Italy. For a morning before a day session, Jean-Talon Market is one of the best outdoor markets in Quebec — fresh produce, prepared foods, and local vendors. It is a 10–15 minute walk from the stadium area.

On days between sessions, Mount Royal Park offers the most rewarding outdoor experience in the city, with views from the Kondiaronk Belvedere stretching across the skyline. If you want something more urban, the restaurants and cafés in Mile End and Le Plateau-Mont-Royal are some of the most interesting eating and drinking in the city.