Cricket Australia has announced a summer of sport that leaves few corners untouched, promising a full calendar of matches in every state and territory capital city for the first time in nearly two decades. Whether you’re in Darwin or Hobart, Perth or Canberra, it seems you won’t need to travel far to see a game this season.
From August 2025 through March 2026, 11 cities and 14 venues will host a mix of men’s and women’s international cricket, taking the game into the north, along the coasts, and back into the big stadiums where records were broken just last summer.
The men’s Ashes series returns with all the drama expected when England land on Australian soil. Pat Cummins will lead Australia into five Tests, hoping to retain the trophy against Ben Stokes and co. The schedule kicks off in Perth and winds through Brisbane (hosting its first Ashes day-night Test), before settling into familiar Boxing Day and New Year settings in Melbourne and Sydney.
But this summer is more than an Ashes tour with a few extras. India will return for a headline-making white-ball clash featuring five T20Is—something never done before between these two sides. Manuka Oval opens the series, and the Gold Coast gets its first taste of Indian men’s cricket, which will no doubt draw packed stands. Throw in three ODIs against India in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney, and you’ve got a blockbuster schedule built for full houses and armchair audiences alike.
The women’s game takes its rightful place on the main stage too, continuing to ride the wave from last season’s Ashes. A multiformat contest against India will include three T20Is under lights, ODIs in Brisbane, Hobart, and Melbourne, and a day-night Test at the redeveloped WACA Ground—offering something new in a place steeped in cricket tradition.
Then there’s the Northern Australia Series, reviving the spirit of cricket in places long forgotten by the fixture list. Darwin will host its first international in 17 years, while Cairns and Mackay offer a lush, summery welcome for the opening men’s matches against South Africa.
The schedule moves early and doesn’t let up. It starts in the Top End in August, when South Africa visits for three T20Is and three ODIs. By October, the spotlight swings to India’s visit, and by November, the Ashes fever takes over. The women’s India tour rounds out the calendar in February and March, making sure fans stay tuned until autumn.
Todd Greenberg, CEO of Cricket Australia, is confident the reach and appeal of the season will resonate across the country.
“We’re excited to announce a schedule that brings the Ashes, the Indian teams, and international cricket to more parts of the country than we’ve seen in years,” he said. “Last summer was massive. The Border-Gavaskar Series set new highs for attendance and engagement, and we expect that kind of energy to carry right through this upcoming season.”
Greenberg highlighted the value of taking matches to regional and northern areas, giving fans beyond the major cities a chance to see top-tier cricket in their backyard.
“There’s something pretty special about playing in Cairns or Mackay. These places haven’t always been part of the calendar, but the support we’ve had from local governments and venues has made it possible this time,” he said.
This isn’t just about checking boxes on a map. It’s about building a summer of stories. From the return of the Christmas Test in Adelaide to the fresh experiments like the Gabba’s first Ashes day-nighter, Cricket Australia is clearly playing with tradition and modernity in equal measure.
And if the players bring anything like the intensity of the 2023-24 season, it won’t be just the fans who need sunscreen—it’ll be the record books.
Pre-sale tickets for fans who register open on 3 June 2025. General public sales begin on 13 June. If you’re planning a summer holiday, maybe keep a few dates flexible—cricket might just be coming to a town near you.
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