Get ready to mark your calendars, cricket enthusiasts – 2026 promises to be an absolute blockbuster year for Australian cricket fans, packed with high-stakes matches, global showdowns, and a return to some of the sport's most thrilling traditions. Imagine the roar of sold-out stadiums and the intensity of rivalries reignited; it's going to be a season that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. And this is the part most people miss: with both men's and women's teams gearing up for action across the globe and at home, cricket in Oz is set to showcase its stars like never before.
Every bilateral series and ICC event for Australia's senior men's and women's teams over the next 12 months is mapped out in the Future Tours Program, offering a sneak peek into a calendar that's as diverse as it is electrifying. Picture this: the revival of winter Test cricket in the steamy Top End, a triumphant return to South African pitches for gripping Test battles, and T20 World Cups that could crown new champions for both Aussie squads. It's a lineup designed to captivate fans worldwide.
Let's dive into the men's side first. As the year kicks off, the Aussie blokes are riding high after securing a commanding 3-1 advantage in the Ashes at home, with the final Pink Test in Sydney drawing massive crowds and bolstering their standing in the World Test Championship (that's the global rankings system that pits nations against each other in a quest for supremacy, perfect for beginners to think of it as cricket's ultimate league table). But here's where it gets controversial – attention shifts swiftly to the women's team, who will host India for an epic multi-format clash in February and March, wrapping up with a pioneering day-night Test at the iconic WACA Ground in Perth. For context, multi-format series mean a mix of T20s, ODIs, and Tests, allowing teams to showcase different skills; it's like switching from a quick sprint to a marathon, testing versatility in ways that keep the sport fresh and unpredictable.
Meanwhile, the men's pursuit of a second T20 World Cup crown ignites in February, with the tournament unfolding in Sri Lanka and India. They'll warm up with a three-game series in Pakistan – a spot that's sparked debate among fans due to historical tensions and past controversies in bilateral cricket. Is it a bold step toward reconciliation, or a risky move that reopens old wounds? You tell us in the comments. Following that, mid-year sees the Aussies back in Pakistan for ODI matches, plus white-ball encounters in Bangladesh, before capping the summer with domestic Tests against Bangladesh in August. These are slated for Darwin in the Northern Territory – the first Test action there since Sri Lanka visited in 2004 – and Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena, which will debut as Australia's 12th Test venue. That's Queensland's sole Test fixture for 2026-27, as the big summer showdowns against New Zealand (our trans-Tasman neighbors) unfold in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney come early 2027, all as day matches to maximize fan attendance.
Adding to the excitement, 2026 brings Australia's inaugural bilateral white-ball outings against Zimbabwe since 2014, followed by an eagerly awaited South Africa tour featuring three Tests – the first since those infamous 2018 events that rocked the cricketing world with allegations of ball-tampering and leadership turmoil. It's a reminder of how cricket can heal and evolve, but does returning to that stage truly erase past shadows, or is it just sweeping controversies under the rug? We'd love to hear your take.
Don't forget the anticipation around extending the ICC's men's Future Tours Program, which will outline international cricket's roadmap from 2027 to 2031. The women's FTP, fresh from late 2024, extends until April 2029. While some dates and venues remain tentative, here's the full scoop on the international schedule for Aussie men and women in 2026.
Australia Men in 2026
January 4-8: Fifth Ashes Test at the SCG, kicking off at 10:30am AEDT (check it out: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:21892/australia-men-england-men-men-s-ashes-2025-26)
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✈️ February: ICC Men's T20 World Cup
- February 11: vs. Ireland at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, 8:30pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:39179/australia-men-ireland-men-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- February 13: vs. Zimbabwe at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, 4:30pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:39184/australia-men-zimbabwe-men-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- February 16: vs. Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy (Feb 17, 12:30am AEDT) (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:39195/australia-men-sri-lanka-men-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- February 20: vs. Oman at Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy (Feb 21, 12:30am AEDT) (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:39205/australia-men-oman-men-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- Australia's Super Eight fixtures (assuming seeded teams advance):
- February 23: Australia (X2) vs. West Indies (X3) at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (Feb 24, 12:30am AEDT) (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:39209/x2-x3-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- February 26: India (X1) vs. Australia (X2) at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (Feb 27, 12:30am AEDT) (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:39213/x1-x2-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- March 1: Australia (X2) vs. South Africa (X4) at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, 8:30pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:39216/x2-x4-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
✈️ June: Three ODIs tour of Pakistan
✈️ June: Three ODIs and three T20Is tour of Bangladesh
August: Two Tests vs. Bangladesh (venues: Darwin and Mackay)
✈️ September: Three ODIs tour of Zimbabwe
✈️ September - October: Three Tests and three ODIs tour of South Africa
November - December: Three ODIs and Five T20Is vs. England
December-January: Four Tests vs. New Zealand (venues: Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, all day matches)
Australia Women in 2026
February 15: First T20 vs. India at SCG, 7:15pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23422/australia-women-india-women-australia-v-india-t20is-women)
February 19: Second T20 vs. India at Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7:15pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23423/australia-women-india-women-australia-v-india-t20is-women)
February 21: Third T20 vs. India at Adelaide Oval, 7:15pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23424/australia-women-india-women-australia-v-india-t20is-women)
February 24: First ODI vs. India at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 2:50pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23425/australia-women-india-women-australia-v-india-odis-women)
February 27: Second ODI vs. India at Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23426/australia-women-india-women-australia-v-india-odis-women)
March 1: Third ODI vs. India at Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23427/australia-women-india-women-australia-v-india-odis-women)
March 6-9: Test match vs. India at WACA Ground, 4:20pm AEDT (Day/Night) (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23428/australia-women-india-women-australia-v-india-test-women)
✈️ March-April: Multi-format series vs. West Indies (one Test, three ODIs, three T20Is)
✈️ June-July: ICC Women's T20 World Cup
- June 13: vs. South Africa at Old Trafford, 11:30pm AEST (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23671/australia-women-south-africa-women-icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- June 17: vs. Qualifier TBC at Headingley, 7:30pm AEST (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23677/australia-women-qualifiers-icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- June 20: vs. Qualifier TBC at Rose Bowl, Southampton, 7:30pm AEST (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23682/australia-women-qualifiers-icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- June 23: vs. Pakistan at Headingley, 3:30am AEST (June 24) (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23689/australia-women-pakistan-women-icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
- June 28: vs. India at Lord's, 11:30pm AEST (link: https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:23698/australia-women-india-women-icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-2026)
October: Three ODIs and three T20Is vs. Bangladesh
✈️ December: Three ODIs tour of Sri Lanka
(✈️ denotes series played overseas)
There you have it – a packed schedule that's sure to keep the passion alive. But let's stir things up: with tours to countries like Pakistan and South Africa, is cricket doing enough to bridge divides, or are these just profitable spectacles ignoring deeper issues? And for the women's side, how will the rise of day-night Tests change the game for female cricketers globally? Share your thoughts below – do you agree that 2026 is set to redefine Australian cricket, or do you see potential pitfalls we haven't touched on? Let's chat!
