Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts announced Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club: Ballroom Tennis Invitational, “an unprecedented celebration of tennis, style and hospitality” at Waldorf Astoria New York. The event marks the official debut of Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club, the brand’s new global platform embracing the world of racquet culture. For one night only on Aug. 27, 2026, Waldorf Astoria New York’s Grand Ballroom will transform into a full-size tennis court beneath the chandeliers.
Culinary programming will spotlight Lex Yard, Waldorf Astoria New York’s signature restaurant helmed by four-time James Beard Award winner Chef Michael Anthony, alongside Champagne House Moët & Chandon, interactive chef stations, tennis-inspired cocktails, premium seafood and limited-time offerings.
The beverage program draws on the original Waldorf Bar’s tradition of “appointment cocktailing,” creating drinks for the moments shaping culture, from the Arctic cocktail honoring Peary’s North Pole expedition to the now-iconic Rob Roy. For Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club, the hotel is reviving its original Racquet Club cocktail, bringing a distinctly Waldorf Astoria ritual into the present. The cocktail will be available at Lex Yard through Sept. 13. Lex Yard will also feature the Lobster Club as a limited-time special with crispy bacon, Little Gem lettuce and heirloom tomatoes.
“The Grand Ballroom has always been one of New York’s great stages, a room created for moments people remember,” says Luigi Romaniello, managing director, Waldorf Astoria New York. “For one night, we are doing something it has never seen before: bringing world-class tennis beneath the chandeliers. It is playful, elegant and unmistakably New York, and it reflects the spirit of Waldorf Astoria New York as we welcome guests back to experience this hotel in new and unexpected ways.”
The launch builds on a distinctive world of racquet experiences already found across the Waldorf Astoria portfolio.
“Racquet culture has become one of the most compelling expressions of modern luxury, where sport, style, travel and social life all move in the same orbit,” says Jamie Kerr, vice president, Luxury Marketing Strategy, Hilton. “Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club is our way of entering that world with a distinct point of view, building on the exceptional tennis and padel experiences already found across our portfolio and creating moments that feel timely, surprising and unmistakably Waldorf Astoria. Ballroom Tennis is the first chapter of a global program that will continue to evolve across destinations and seasons.”
Tickets and overnight packages are now available. Beginning at $1,500, experiences include live showcase match play, curated culinary offerings, signature beverage experiences, player meet-and-greet opportunities along with exclusive event merchandise, which will be available for purchase. A limited collection of stay-and-play packages is also available, featuring spacious accommodations at Waldorf Astoria New York, exclusive tennis clinics and restorative experiences at the hotel’s Guerlain Wellness Spa. Five percent of net sales proceeds from the event will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, with the contribution matched by the Hilton Global Foundation.
