The first Wimbledon, in July 1877, had 22 players. The 2027 Championships, from Monday 28 June to Sunday 11 July, mark 150 years since that afternoon. The All England Club is treating it accordingly.
What's planned
The headline so far: a statue of Sir Andy Murray. All England Club chair Debbie Jevans has said the ambition is to unveil it during the 150th-anniversary year, with Murray involved in its design. He'd join Fred Perry, whose bronze has stood at the grounds since 1984. Perry was the last British men's champion before Murray ended a 77-year wait in 2013.
Expect more anniversary programming to be announced through the winter.
Why tickets will be brutal
Wimbledon already runs on scarcity: a public ballot that opens each autumn for the following year, a famous overnight queue, and very limited official hospitality. Its ticket conditions don't allow resale outside the club's own channels. Debentures, the long-term seat rights on the show courts, are the traditional exception.
Add an anniversary year, a Murray statue and the likelihood of the biggest names returning for a historic edition, and the second week is going to be the most fought-over seat in world sport.
If you want to be there
- Enter the public ballot as soon as it opens on Wimbledon's official site. It's free, and it's the cheapest route by far.
- Decide early on hospitality. Buy official hospitality only through Wimbledon's approved channels, and expect anniversary demand to move early.
- Book London hotels near SW19 now. You can usually cancel; you usually can't find one in May.
- Ignore social-media sellers. Wimbledon's ticket conditions let it cancel tickets resold outside its own channels.
GIST Access is building a no-commitment priority list for 2027 hospitality, stays and cars. Join it here.
