County Championship Division One 2026

The 2026 County Championship Division One is back, featuring 10 teams competing in England's premier red-ball cricket tournament. This season will run from April 3 to September 27, 2026, with a total of 70 matches scheduled to be played. Defending champions Nottinghamshire will kick off their campaign against Somerset, while Leicestershire and Glamorgan make their return following their promotion to Division One.

The season begins with Round 1, running from April 3 to April 6; this includes key fixtures such as Warwickshire versus Surrey and Hampshire versus Essex. Each match will be played over four days, and the sequence of rounds will continue throughout the season, leading up to the final matches.

County Championship Division One 2026 Format

The 2026 County Championship season will be played in three distinct phases, with each county playing a total of 14 matches. In the first phase, counties will play six matches over a period of seven weeks. All matches in this stage will commence on Fridays, ensuring a consistent schedule for the start of the season. This will be followed by a phase in June—midway through the summer—during which each county will play two additional matches.

The final phase of the season will begin on August 20, with each county playing six more matches to conclude their campaign. The final round of the Championship will commence on September 24, bringing the 2026 County Championship season to a close.

Where to Watch County Championship Division One 2026

County Championship matches can be watched on various platforms. Many county teams live-stream their matches on their official YouTube channels, allowing fans to watch these games for free.