A feast of red ball cricket is on the horizon with today’s Plunket Shield schedule announcement confirming 24 first-class games will be played across nine venues in Aotearoa this summer.
New Zealand’s premier first-class competition returns for its 101st season, adding to a packed rota of red ball cricket that also includes Tests against India and Sri Lanka at home, and Australia away.
The domestic red ball summer will also get an injection of international class as New Zealand A host India A for three four-day matches in Christchurch starting October 24.
The competition's eight-round structure remains the same, with rounds one to four taking place in November and December 2026 before breaking for the Super Smash and Ford Trophy, then returning in March for rounds five to eight to close out the domestic summer.
NZC Chief Cricket Operations Officer Catherine Campbell said the Plunket Shield schedule added another layer to what was shaping up as a bumper summer of red ball cricket.
"This schedule adds to what's already building as a huge summer of red ball cricket, alongside the BLACKCAPS' Test series against India, Australia and Sri Lanka," said Campbell.
"Running through November and December alongside the India Tests, and then wrapping up in March off the back of the Sri Lanka series, it means red ball cricket is front and centre for a large chunk of the summer.
"It's a great opportunity for fans to get out to their local ground and watch the next crop of red ball talent putting their hand up.”
For the first time since 2023, Plunket Shield action will be back on display at Auckland’s newly revamped Colin Maiden Park which is set to host rounds six and eight in March.
Round one kicks off on November 19 with defending champions Canterbury taking on their South Island rivals and last year’s runners-up Otago, who will be determined for a strong start after missing out on the title by a narrow net run rate margin, at Dunedin’s University of Otago Oval.
Meanwhile Hamilton’s Seddon Park will host Northern Districts and the Auckland Aces, whilst the Central Stags and Wellington Firebirds commence their campaign at Palmerston North’s Fitzherbert Park.
The competition will culminate with the final round starting March 26, with matches taking place across Colin Maiden Park, Wellington’s Cello Basin Reserve, and Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, where all eyes will be on the final points tally and one team crowned the 2026-27 Plunket Shield champions.
All matches are FREE ENTRY and will be live scored at nzc.nz and live streamed on the NZC YouTube channel.