What Is the Full Ashes 2025/2026 Schedule?

Few sporting contests capture the imagination like the Ashes. For nearly 150 years, England and Australia have battled for the right to hold the tiny urn that symbolises cricket’s greatest rivalry. Each series brings new storylines, fresh heroes, and dramatic momentum shifts.

The 2025/26 edition is already one of the most anticipated Ashes tours in recent memory. Not only is it the latest chapter in a contest that never loses intensity, but it also brings with it a schedule that is both respectful of tradition and refreshingly different. For the first time in decades, the opening Test will not be held at Brisbane’s Gabba, long regarded as Australia’s fortress. Instead, Perth will host the series opener, giving the rivalry a fiery start in the west. Adding to the intrigue, Brisbane’s Gabba Test has been converted into a day-night contest under lights, an innovation that will challenge both players and captains.

These tweaks to the itinerary make this Ashes series feel like a blend of the modern and the traditional. Fans will still enjoy the marquee Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the New Year’s Test at the SCG, but the early disruption in order ensures that no team can rely solely on familiar rhythms. With the urn currently in Australian hands after they retained it in 2023, England will arrive determined to wrestle it back in conditions that have historically been among the hardest for visiting teams.

Full Fixture List: Tests, Dates and Venues

Here is the complete fixture list for the 2025/26 Ashes series.

• 1st Test: Perth Stadium, Perth — 21 to 25 November 2025
  The rivalry begins in Western Australia, at a ground renowned for its pace and bounce.

• 2nd Test: The Gabba, Brisbane (Day-Night Test) — 4 to 8 December 2025
  The Gabba hosts under lights, with the pink ball promising unpredictable swings in momentum.

• 3rd Test: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide — 17 to 21 December 2025
  A picturesque pre-Christmas contest, often producing tactical battles between bat and ball.

• 4th Test: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne — 26 to 30 December 2025 (Boxing Day Test)
  The showpiece event of Australian cricket’s summer, played in front of one of the largest crowds in world sport.

• 5th Test: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney — 4 to 8 January 2026 (New Year’s Test)
  The finale at the SCG, steeped in tradition and often decisive when series remain alive.

This schedule runs just over seven weeks, spanning late November through early January. It compresses five Tests into a tight window, demanding physical endurance and mental strength from both teams.

Key Features and Highlights of the Schedule

Several elements of the 2025/26 itinerary stand out and could influence the shape of the series.

Perth Hosts the Opener

For the first time since the early 1980s, the series will not begin at the Gabba. Instead, Perth gets the nod. The stadium’s hard surface and true bounce offer Australia’s fast bowlers the perfect conditions to test England’s top order. Starting in Perth is both a symbolic and strategic shift: it hands the hosts an early home advantage in conditions likely to suit them. But it also removes the psychological “Gabba curtain-raiser,” which has long loomed over visiting sides.

A Day-Night Test at the Gabba

The Gabba Test has not been abandoned — only repurposed. Played under lights, it will be the first day-night Ashes match at this venue. The pink ball introduces fresh tactical considerations: batting at dusk becomes treacherous, while fast bowlers often find exaggerated movement under the lights. Captains will need to be bold with declarations and clever with field placements. Fans can expect high drama as the match transitions from bright Queensland sunshine into floodlit evenings.

Tradition Remains Intact

Despite the shake-up at the start, tradition holds sway in the middle and end. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG is non-negotiable — a cultural event in Australia that attracts crowds of more than 80,000 on day one. Likewise, the New Year’s Test at the SCG is a staple of the calendar, often featuring festive colour, charity events, and, crucially, pitches that assist spin. Adelaide Oval’s December slot provides another classic, with its long shadows, festive crowds, and a reputation for close contests.

A Compact Series

Five Tests in seven weeks means recovery time is limited. Players must travel across vast distances, adapt to different climates, and maintain intensity with little respite. Fast bowlers, in particular, will be stretched, while batting line-ups will need to summon deep reserves of concentration. The compressed nature of the schedule ensures no side can afford a slow start.

Comparisons with Previous Ashes Series

The Ashes schedule has generally followed a familiar pattern, particularly in Australia: the series often began in Brisbane, then moved to Adelaide, before heading to Melbourne and Sydney, with Perth typically playing host somewhere in between. By opening in Perth this time, the organisers have upended that rhythm.

This change matters. England have historically struggled in Brisbane, where Australia have turned early dominance into series momentum. Removing the Gabba as the opener could neutralise that traditional advantage. However, by making Perth the first stop, the Australians still ensure their quick bowlers are front and centre in conditions that suit them.

Another notable difference is the emphasis on the day-night format. While Australia have experimented with pink-ball Tests in Adelaide before, the Gabba under lights represents a bold step. England’s relative inexperience in day-night Tests in Australian conditions could be exposed.

The weather is another factor. Late November in Perth brings intense heat and long days, conditions that may test visiting players unused to such extremes. December in Brisbane is humid, with afternoon storms always a possibility, while Melbourne’s famously unpredictable summer can bring scorching sun one day and cool drizzle the next. Sydney in January often produces turning pitches, which may bring spinners into play in the finale.

Tips for Fans: Planning Around the Schedule

For those hoping to attend the Ashes in Australia or follow it closely from abroad, the 2025/26 schedule offers both opportunities and challenges.

Best Places to Watch

• Perth: The new stadium is a modern marvel, offering excellent facilities and a lively atmosphere. Its location on the Swan River adds to the experience.

• Brisbane: The Gabba remains one of Australia’s most atmospheric venues, and the novelty of a day-night Ashes Test makes it even more compelling.

• Adelaide: Known for its beauty and hospitality, Adelaide Oval provides a mix of heritage and modern comforts, especially popular with touring fans.

• Melbourne: Nothing compares to the Boxing Day Test. The sheer size of the MCG and the roar of the crowd make it a must-see event.

• Sydney: The SCG’s New Year’s Test blends tradition with festivity, complete with the famous Pink Test charity day.

Travel and Tickets

Australia’s size means travel between venues requires careful planning. Perth to Brisbane is a long haul, while Melbourne and Sydney are more accessible by road or short flights. Tickets are typically released months in advance, with high demand for the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests. Fans should book early for those marquee fixtures.

Broadcast Considerations

For fans in the UK, time zones will dictate viewing habits. Perth’s matches will begin in the early hours of the UK morning, while Brisbane’s day-night Test could allow for more accessible evening viewing. Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney will require fans to adjust sleep schedules — a familiar ritual for dedicated Ashes watchers.

What to Watch For: Key Matches and Turning Points

The schedule sets up several potentially decisive encounters.

• The Perth Opener: Whoever seizes momentum here may carry it through the series. Australia will look to unleash their fast bowlers; England must weather the storm and prove it can adapt quickly.

• The Brisbane Day-Nighter: This could be the most unpredictable Test. The pink ball often makes batting under lights a lottery, meaning captains must manage resources carefully.

• The Boxing Day Test: By tradition and atmosphere, this is the series’ centrepiece. If the Ashes are still alive, the MCG stage makes it unforgettable. Performances here are etched into folklore.

• The Sydney Finale: Should the series come down to the final Test, spin could be decisive. Sydney’s surface traditionally offers turn, providing a different challenge after the pace and bounce of earlier venues.

Conclusion: Mark the Dates, Ready the Passion

The 2025/26 Ashes schedule delivers both the comfort of tradition and the spice of change. Perth hosting the opener alters the rhythm of the series; a day-night Test at the Gabba adds innovation; and the return of the Boxing Day and New Year’s fixtures anchors the tour in heritage.

For players, the itinerary demands stamina, adaptability, and mental fortitude. For fans, it promises high drama across five Tests in seven weeks. From the heat of Perth to the festive roars of Melbourne, the Ashes will once again be the beating heart of the cricketing world.

Mark the dates, ready the passion, and prepare for a series that could add yet another unforgettable chapter to cricket’s greatest rivalry.