Billie Jean King & John McEnroe: Champions in Sport. Champions in Life.
On Sunday 27 June 2027, the day before The Championships, Wimbledon begins, two of the sport’s greatest champions take The O2 stage for a unique and exciting spoken event quite unlike any other.
Billie Jean King, the sports icon and equality champion who captured a record 20 Wimbledon championships, and John McEnroe, the man with the most combined singles and doubles titles in the Open Era and the voice of tennis, they didn’t just win - they changed the sport. They’ll share unfiltered stories from the biggest moments of their lives, both on and off the court, from McEnroe’s unforgettable back-to-back Wimbledon finals to King’s iconic “Battle of the Sexes” win over Bobby Riggs.
At a time when success is often measured only by winning, Billie Jean and John offer a unique perspective. They’ll explore what it means to overcome adversity, handle pressure, learn from failure, break barriers, and keep moving forward when the odds are against you.
This is a rare opportunity to hear from two Hall of Fame sporting legends, with 56 Grand Slam titles between them. They’ll reflect on the lessons they’ve learned from a lifetime spent competing at the highest level.
_____________________________________________________
The O2, the world's most popular live entertainment, leisure and retail destination, owned and operated by AEG, has announced that tennis legends Billie Jean King and John McEnroe will make their UK arena debut together in the only spoken word event as part of the venue's 20th birthday celebrations.
Taking place on Sunday 27 June 2027, one day before the start of Wimbledon, the special ‘Billie Jean King & John McEnroe: Champions in Sport. Champions in Life.’ will see two of the sport’s most influential and iconic figures come together on stage for an evening of stories, insight and discussion, reflecting on their remarkable careers, the evolution of professional tennis and the moments that shaped the game.
Celebrating The O2 at twenty throughout summer 2027, the birthday series will bring together an exciting and diverse line-up of artists, performers and special events, spanning rising stars to global icons across music, sport and entertainment.
Confirmed 20th birthday events include:
With many more to be announced.
Speaking on the spoken word event, Billie Jean King said: “Anytime John and I get together, it is a lively and engaging conversation, and I am looking forward to being part of The O2’s twentieth anniversary season. Tennis has given both John and me a wonderful platform for our lives and it will be fun to share stories that take the audience behind the curtain into the real world of our careers.”
John McEnroe added: “I am really looking forward to coming to London for a first time ever show with Billie Jean King. She is not only the most influential person in the history of Women’s Sports, but also my good friend and a living legend. Working together, we will give our very best to enlighten and entertain you at The O2 London on 27/6/27. We hope that you will join us for a great afternoon of live entertainment.”
Emma Bownes, Senior Vice President, Venue Programming, AEG International, commented: "As we continue celebrating The O2's 20th birthday, we're delighted to welcome Billie Jean King and John McEnroe for what promises to be a truly fascinating evening. Both have had an extraordinary impact on sport and culture, inspiring generations through their achievements, and we look forward to welcoming fans to what will be a very special event.”
The news comes ahead of the return of the Laver Cup to The O2 later this month. Having previously hosted the tournament in 2022, The O2 will become one of the few venues globally to welcome the event for a second time, underlining its enduring relationship with some of the biggest moments in international tennis.
Since opening in 2007, The O2 has hosted more than 3,000 shows and welcomed over 100 million visitors, establishing itself as the world's leading live entertainment venue with countless iconic live moments to its name. 2027 will also mark more than two decades of partnership between the venue and headline sponsor O2, who have worked together in close collaboration since the venue's inception.
You will be directed to AXS.com to purchase your tickets. AXS is the official ticketing partner of The O2.