Ashes 2025-26 Schedule: Tournament opener not at Gabba, new Perth stadium to host first Australia vs England Test

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Ashes 2025-26 Schedule: Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday, October 16 announced the full schedule for the Ashes 2025-26. A shake-up to the traditional Ashes rota in Australia have been done.

The series-opener will not be held at Gabba in Brisbane this time, and instead Optus Stadium in Perth will host the first Test of the five-match series. Similarly, the Day-Night Test will be held at Gabba and not in Adelaide which has hosted the other two Day-Night Tests between Australia and England in Australia till date.

"For the first time in more than four decades, the Ashes battle will begin at a ground other than the Gabba and at what will become the eighth Australian Ashes venue since the inaugural encounter between the nations in 1877," Cricket Australia said in their statement.

Adelaide will instead host the third match - the Christmas Test ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Adelaide has been given a marquee holiday slot considering the Test's popularity from the tourism point of view. The same also means that Adelaide will host its first daytime Ashes encounter since 2013. The series will conclude at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in the first week of January 2026.

"The 2025-26 Ashes dates align with our recently released seven-year international schedule and we are grateful for the support state and territory governments are providing to enhance and grow our major events," CA's executive general manager of events and operations, Joel Morrison, said in Perth today.

Ashes 2025-26 schedule

• Perth Test (West Test): Perth Stadium | Nov 21-25
• Brisbane Test (Day/Night Test): Gabba | Dec 4-8
• Adelaide Test (Christmas Test): Adelaide Oval | Dec 17-21
• Melbourne Test (Boxing Day Test): MCG | Dec 26-30
• Sydney Test (New Year's Test): SCG | Jan 4-8