Wimbledon 2026 Dress Code: From the 1cm Trim Rule to Underwear Secrets Unveiled!

SW19 is buzzing, the strawberries and cream are flying, and the greatest show on turf is officially back.

But as the world’s elite stars smash their way through 2026, they aren’t just fighting their opponents, they’re battling one of the strictest dress codes in sport.

Zeynep Sonmez of Turkiye and Ann Li of the United States compete during their Women’s Singles First Round match on Day 1 of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on June 29 Credit: Getty Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina plays a forehand against Fabian Marozsan of Hungary during the Gentlemen’s Singles first round match on day one of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29 Credit: Getty

Wimbledon’s legendary ‘all-white rule’ dress code is famous.

From the exact millimetre of trim to the secret rules on underwear, here is the ultimate guide to what players can and cannot wear at Wimbledon 2026.

What can and can’t competitors wear on court?

The moment a player steps into the court surround, they must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white.

The rulebook explicitly states that “White does not include off white or cream.”

The strict guidelines cover every single piece of clothing, including tracksuits and sweaters worn during practice and matches. Here are the brutal dos and don’ts:

• The 1cm trim rule: A single trim of colour is allowed around the neckline, the cuff of the sleeves, and down the outside seam of shorts, skirts, or tracksuit bottoms. But it must be no wider than one centimetre (10mm)!
• No sneaky patterns: Any colour contained within a pattern is measured as if it’s a solid mass of colour and must fit within that 1cm guide.
• Accessories: Caps (including the underbill), headbands, bandanas, wristbands, and socks must be completely white, except for that same 1cm trim restriction.
• The shoe showdown: Trainers must be almost entirely white, but the soles and laces must be completely white. The club has strict grand slam rules for grass court shoes; absolutely no pimples are permitted around the outside of the toes, and the foxing around the toes must be totally smooth.

Why does Wimbledon have a strict all-white rule?

The tradition dates all the way back to the Victorian era in the late 1800s.

Back then, tennis was a high-society game played at posh garden parties, where seeing visible sweat on coloured clothing was considered completely vulgar and “unbecoming,” especially for female players.

To hide the moisture, players started wearing pure white.

The All England Club loved the clean, elegant look so much they made it a mandatory requirement in 1963.

Decades later, the tradition remains firmly intact to keep the tournament looking as prestigious as possible.

Are there any exemptions?

There are a couple of vital exceptions to Wimbledon’s rulebook.

The biggest relief for players is the female underwear exception.

Female athletes are officially allowed to wear solid, mid-to-dark-coloured undershorts, provided they are no longer than their shorts or skirt.

This rule was introduced to eliminate period anxiety on court, letting the stars focus entirely on winning.

For everyone else, any undergarments that are or can become visible during play, even due to sweat, must be completely white with that maximum 1cm trim.

If a player needs medical tape, bandages, or supports during a match, the rules state they should be white if possible, but they may be coloured if absolutely necessary.

Manufacturers logos on clothing items are technically allowed, but they are heavily restricted.

Logos “formed by variations of material or patterns” are completely banned, while large manufacturers’ logos are officially “not encouraged.”