The 2026-27 New Zealand domestic cricket season will begin on October 28 with the men’s Ford Trophy. Defending champions Central Districts will host Northern Districts at Saxton Oval in Nelson in the opening match of the domestic summer, marking the third straight season that the Ford Trophy starts the calendar.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has planned the domestic schedule alongside the international summer to avoid major clashes between the competitions. The board will announce the full Plunket Shield schedule on September 2. The fixtures for the Super Smash T20 competition will follow later in September.
New Zealand Domestic Season to Kick Off on October 28
The 2026-27 Ford Trophy will feature 10 rounds, following the same structure used in recent seasons. The first five rounds will take place across October and November before the competition pauses for the Plunket Shield and Super Smash. Notably, the remaining rounds will resume in February.
Auckland will face Canterbury in the opening round, while Wellington will take on Otago. The schedule gives fans across New Zealand early access to List A cricket before the domestic calendar moves into its next phase.
The women’s domestic season will begin on November 14 with the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield. Defending champions Northern Districts will start their title defence against Central Hinds at Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North.
14 Venues Included as Colin Maiden Park Returns
A total of 14 venues will host matches across the men’s and women’s limited-overs competitions during the 2026-27 domestic season. Domestic cricket will be in several regional centres, giving supporters more opportunities to watch their teams close to home.
One of the notable additions is Colin Maiden Park in Auckland. The venue will return to the domestic schedule for the first time since 2023 after undergoing redevelopment. Its return adds another established ground to New Zealand Cricket’s venue rotation.
The limited-overs season will conclude with the combined Finals Weekend at the Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington. New Zealand Cricket will bring both competitions together for the event after the concept received a positive response in previous seasons.
Gives Fans the Chance to Watch Our Best Domestic Talent - New Zealand Cricket Chief
New Zealand Cricket chief cricket operations officer Catherine Campbell welcomed the wide venue spread and said the schedule would help more fans watch domestic cricket in their own regions.
“No matter where you live in Aotearoa [the Maori name for New Zealand], there's a good chance a Ford Trophy or Hallyburton Johnstone Shield match is coming to a ground near you this summer. This year's schedule once again gives fans the chance to watch our best domestic talent up close at some fantastic regional venues.”
“The combined Finals Weekend concept continues to be a success and it's exciting to be bringing it back to the Cello Basin Reserve this summer. This schedule also dovetails nicely with our international summer, meaning there's top-class cricket on offer right through the peak summer cricket months.”
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