Cricket Australia’s 2025-26 WBBL fixture is out, and for the first time in three years neither the MCG nor the SCG features in the regular-season line-up. The decision, driven by a compressed 35-day window, has trimmed the “stadium series” for now, yet a Saturday-night final at the MCG is still possible if a Melbourne side earns hosting rights.
Key dates and opening night
The campaign runs from 9 November to 13 December, squeezed between the Women’s ODI World Cup in India and the men’s BBL opener the following day. It starts with last season’s finalists, Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Renegades, at Allan Border Field. Sydney Thunder meet Hobart Hurricanes later the same evening at the same venue, giving broadcasters a tidy double-header.
Only one major ground this time
Ten double-headers are slated, but Adelaide Oval is the sole Test venue involved, hosting back-to-back matches on 28 November. Last year’s experiment moved fixtures to the Gabba, SCG and MCG. That approach is on hold.
Big Bash Leagues general manager Alistair Dobson explained the shift. “Each season when we look at the schedule, we always looking for the balance of the right venues and the right opportunity to promote those games,” Dobson said. “We’ve enjoyed playing in bigger stadiums for the past couple of seasons, and are really looking forward to being back at Adelaide Oval this year.” He added: “The other games, largely due to scheduling reasons and needing to optimise those games in those big stadiums, we haven’t found the right slot for them this year.” And, finally: “That’s not to say we won’t be back there in the future, because [playing] the world’s best cricket league in the world’s best stadiums is still a part of our thinking going forward, but not for this season.”
Lights, cameras, compromise
A night final is locked in for 13 December. Junction Oval’s new floodlights will not be installed in time, so if Stars or Renegades finish top seed the MCG looms as the logical alternative. North Sydney Oval, Allan Border Field and the WACA have lighting in place, ensuring they remain eligible. Adelaide Oval is out that weekend with a men’s Ashes Test looming, but nearby Karen Rolton Oval offers a lit option for the Strikers.
Neutral-venue quirks have raised eyebrows among clubs. Every side must host one fixture away from its traditional base, a concession to Seven and Foxtel’s desire to limit equipment transfers. The oddest example sees Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers meet in Adelaide two days before Strikers v Scorchers in Melbourne. Coaches are privately frustrated, yet most acknowledge the tight calendar left little wiggle room.
Analysis without the hype
The absence of the MCG and SCG is not a step backwards but a pragmatic pause. Big stadium matches draw bigger walk-up crowds and create a statement atmosphere, yet half-full stands can look flat on television. By concentrating on boutique venues this year, CA can all but guarantee fuller houses and a livelier soundtrack, while preserving the option of a showpiece final under lights at the ’G.
Players will still clock plenty of overs: 56 group games and three finals packed into five weeks mirror last season’s volume. Fatigue and squad depth will matter as ever, especially for internationals returning straight from India. Short turnarounds might also heighten injury risk, an angle medical staff will monitor closely.
For supporters, the fixture list is straightforward: week-night double-headers on free-to-air, weekend clusters for family attendance, and a decisive Saturday night to crown the champions. If the Renegades or Stars finish top, 80,000 seats at the MCG could be waiting. If not, fans will enjoy a final in a smaller ground already primed for night cricket. Either way, the product should stay familiar—just without the vast swathes of terracing until the decider.
