T20 Spring Challenge 2026 Schedule: Fixtures, Venues, Times
Published on October 12, 2026
Summary Overview: The T20 Spring Challenge 2026 runs October 12 to 21 in Sydney: 9 teams, 21 T20s, and a final at Cricket Central. Full schedule in local time, IST and ET.
9 Teams, 21 Matches, 10 Days: Your Complete Guide to the T20 Spring Challenge 2026
What is the T20 Spring Challenge?
A women's T20 tournament in Sydney that works as a warm-up for the WBBL. It features all eight WBBL teams plus the ACT Meteors.
When is it?
From Monday, October 12 to Wednesday, October 21, 2026 (local time in Sydney). In the US, the first matches started on the evening of Sunday, October 11.
How many matches?
21 T20s: 18 league games, two semi-finals and the final.
Who are the champions?
Hobart Hurricanes, who have won both editions so far (2024 and 2025) and are chasing a hat-trick.
The Story: A Ten-Day Warm-Up Before WBBL|12
The T20 Spring Challenge is Cricket Australia's pre-season tournament for women's T20 cricket. Started in 2024, it gives WBBL squads competitive matches before the main event, and gives emerging players a chance to impress against top opposition.
For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), so a game lasts about three hours. That is why several matches can be played on the same day across different grounds.
This year, every match is in Sydney, spread across five grounds. The final is at Cricket Central, Cricket NSW's headquarters at Sydney Olympic Park, on Wednesday, October 21.
Hobart Hurricanes are the team to beat. They beat Brisbane Heat in the 2024 final to become the first champions, then beat the Heat again in the 2025 final, this time by 88 runs.
How the Tournament Works
- League stage (18 matches): each of the nine teams plays four games against different opponents. Not every team meets every other team.
- Points table: the top four reach the semi-finals. Teams level on points are usually separated by net run rate (a measure of how quickly a team scores compared with its opponents).
- Semi-finals (October 20): 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd.
- Final (October 21): the two semi-final winners.
The Teams
| Adelaide Strikers | South Australia |
| Brisbane Heat | Queensland |
| Hobart Hurricanes | Tasmania |
| Melbourne Renegades | Victoria |
| Melbourne Stars | Victoria |
| Perth Scorchers | Western Australia |
| Sydney Sixers | New South Wales |
| Sydney Thunder | New South Wales |
| ACT Meteors | Australian Capital Territory |
The ACT Meteors are the only team not in the WBBL. They play in Australia's domestic women's competitions.
Full Schedule (Local, IST and ET)
League Stage
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue | Local (AEDT) | IST | ET |
| Match 1 | Mon, Oct 12 | Hobart Hurricanes vs ACT Meteors | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 2 | 10:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 7:00 PM (Oct 11) |
| Match 2 | Mon, Oct 12 | Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat | Hurstville Oval, Sydney | 10:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 7:00 PM (Oct 11) |
| Match 3 | Mon, Oct 12 | Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 2 | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 11) |
| Match 4 | Mon, Oct 12 | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars | Hurstville Oval, Sydney | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 11) |
| Match 5 | Tue, Oct 13 | Sydney Sixers vs ACT Meteors | Bankstown Oval, Sydney | 10:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 7:00 PM (Oct 12) |
| Match 6 | Tue, Oct 13 | Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers | Bankstown Oval, Sydney | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 12) |
| Match 7 | Tue, Oct 13 | Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat | Bankstown Oval, Sydney | 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Match 8 | Wed, Oct 14 | Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars | Bankstown Oval, Sydney | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 13) |
| Match 9 | Wed, Oct 14 | Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes | Bankstown Oval, Sydney | 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Match 10 | Fri, Oct 16 | Brisbane Heat vs ACT Meteors | Raby Oval No. 1, Sydney | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 15) |
| Match 11 | Sat, Oct 17 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 1 | 10:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 7:00 PM (Oct 16) |
| Match 12 | Sat, Oct 17 | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 2 | 10:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 7:00 PM (Oct 16) |
| Match 13 | Sat, Oct 17 | ACT Meteors vs Melbourne Stars | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 2 | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 16) |
| Match 14 | Sat, Oct 17 | Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 1 | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 16) |
| Match 15 | Sun, Oct 18 | Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 2 | 10:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 7:00 PM (Oct 17) |
| Match 16 | Sun, Oct 18 | Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 2 | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 17) |
| Match 17 | Sun, Oct 18 | Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 1 | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 17) |
| Match 18 | Sun, Oct 18 | Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars | Blacktown International Sportspark No. 1 | 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM |
Matches 1 and 2 were played on the morning of Monday, October 12, local time.
Semi-Finals and Final
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue | Local (AEDT) | IST | ET |
| Semi-final 1 | Tue, Oct 20 | 1st vs 4th | Cricket Central, Sydney | 10:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 7:00 PM (Oct 19) |
| Semi-final 2 | Tue, Oct 20 | 2nd vs 3rd | Cricket Central, Sydney | 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (Oct 19) |
| Final | Wed, Oct 21 | Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | Cricket Central, Sydney | 2:00 PM | 8:30 AM | 11:00 PM (Oct 20) |
Local time is Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). Morning and afternoon games in Sydney start the previous evening in the US, so the date is shown in brackets. In Pakistan, the start times are 4:00 AM, 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM, and 8:00 AM for the final.
📄 Download the T20 Spring Challenge 2026 schedule as a PDF to save or share.
Start Times at a Glance
| Sydney (AEDT) | IST (India) | ET (US East Coast) | PKT (Pakistan) | Match Types / Typical Slot |
| 10:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 7:00 PM (prev. day) | 4:00 AM | Morning League Matches |
| 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM (prev. day) | 8:30 AM | Afternoon Matches & Semi-final 2 |
| 7:00 PM | 1:30 PM | 4:00 AM | 1:00 PM | Evening Prime-Time Matches |
| 2:00 PM | 8:30 AM | 11:00 PM (prev. day) | 8:00 AM | Final Match (Oct 21) |
Busiest Days and Key Dates
- Monday, October 12: four matches on the opening day, across Blacktown and Hurstville.
- Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18: eight matches across the weekend, all at Blacktown, as the race for the top four reaches its peak.
- Tuesday, October 20: both semi-finals at Cricket Central.
- Wednesday, October 21: the final, just eight days before WBBL|12 begins on October 29.
Where to Watch
In Australia, every match is streamed live on cricket.com.au, the Cricket Australia Live app and Kayo Sports.
Stat Corner
| Stat | Figure |
| Teams | 9 |
| Total Matches | 21 (18 league, 2 semi-finals, 1 final) |
| League Games per Team | 4 |
| Venues | 5 (all in Sydney) |
| Edition | 3rd |
| Defending Champions | Hobart Hurricanes (2024, 2025) |
| 2025 Final Result | Hobart Hurricanes beat Brisbane Heat by 88 runs |
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the T20 Spring Challenge 2026 start?
Monday, October 12, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Sydney (4:30 AM IST, and 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 11).
When is the T20 Spring Challenge 2026 final?
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Cricket Central in Sydney, at 2:00 PM local time, 8:30 AM IST and 11:00 PM ET on October 20.
Who won the T20 Spring Challenge in 2025?
Hobart Hurricanes, who beat Brisbane Heat by 88 runs in the final. They also won the first edition in 2024.
Is the T20 Spring Challenge part of the WBBL?
No. It is a separate pre-season tournament, but it uses the eight WBBL teams plus the ACT Meteors.
How many teams reach the semi-finals?
Four. The top four after the league stage play 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 T20 Spring Challenge 2026 Complete Guide
📋 T20 Spring Challenge 2026 Matches Schedule
📋 T20 Spring Challenge 2026 Standings and Points Table
📋 WBBL 2026 Schedule: Full WBBL|12 Fixtures, Venues and Match Times