The 2026 Cheltenham Cricket Festival promises an action-packed schedule this August, blending white-ball and red-ball cricket for fans at the iconic venue. The Festival will feature four 50-over matches alongside a highlight four-day County Championship fixture.
Worcestershire returns to Cheltenham for the first time since 2023, facing Gloucestershire in the four-day County Championship match from Thursday, August 20 to Sunday, August 23.
The Festival’s white-ball action begins with the Gloucestershire women’s team hosting Sussex in a 50-over match on Saturday, August 8. The women’s squad will then close out the white-ball segment against Kent on Sunday, August 16.
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Men’s One-Day Cup games also feature prominently, with Gloucestershire facing Nottinghamshire on Sunday, August 9, followed by Northamptonshire on Tuesday, August 11.
Gloucestershire’s County Championship Division Two journey kicks off at the prestigious Lord’s Cricket Ground, where they take on Middlesex from April 3 to 6. Championship cricket then moves to Bristol a week later, as Gloucestershire welcome Durham following their relegation from Division One.
The teams contesting the Championship will play 14 fixtures each, divided into three blocks. The first block spans seven weeks with matches starting every Friday. A mid-season block in June features two matches per county, while the final block commences on August 20, wrapping up the season with six more matches. The Championship concludes on September 24.
In the One-Day Cup, Gloucestershire will compete against Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey, and Warwickshire. The season opens at Kibworth Cricket Club versus Leicestershire on July 22, followed by a West Country derby at Somerset’s Taunton on July 24. Gloucestershire’s three home matches in this competition include games against Kent and Surrey in Bristol, plus the two fixtures at Cheltenham during the Festival.
The One-Day Cup structure sees group winners progress directly to home semi-finals, while the second and third-placed teams battle in quarter-finals on August 14 to earn semi-final spots on August 16. The Cup final takes place at Trent Bridge on September 20.
Women’s cricket at Gloucestershire also enjoys a busy schedule. Their One-Day Cup League 2 campaign unfolds in two four-game blocks across April-May and August-September. The team faces Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Kent, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Sussex, and Worcestershire. Opening away matches against Glamorgan and Middlesex kick off on April 12, with home games, including one at Cheltenham against Northamptonshire on May 3, sprinkled throughout the season.
The women’s top four at the league stage move to knockout rounds. Semi-finals are on September 13, and the final is set for September 20 in Bristol.
In addition, Gloucestershire women participate in the T20 Women’s County Cup featuring 37 counties aiming for Finals Day at Old Trafford on August 29. Gloucestershire begin with a home match against Cornwall on April 26 before the introduction of the Tier 1 counties in round three.
Cheltenham’s 2026 Festival offers a vibrant combination of formats and competitions, promising thrilling moments for cricket enthusiasts across men’s and women’s matches.