Australia is set for a big summer during the 2026 and 2027 calendar year. Home and away matches, major rivalries and a World Test Championship final could all be part of an incredible period for the Australian team.

 

Australia’s first matches of this new era will be a two-Test home series against Bangladesh in August 2026. Tests will be played in Darwin and Mackay, with the latter also set to become Australia’s 12th Test match venue when hosting the second Test at Great Barrier Reef Arena.

 

Next on the calendar is a tour to South Africa in October 2026, where the current World Test Champions will play the current number one ranked team in a three Test match series. The matches against the Proteas will be Australia's first Test tour to South Africa since 2018 where the famous ‘sandpaper gate’ occurred.

 

The 2026-27 home summer schedule is highlighted by four Test matches against New Zealand between December 2026 and January 2027. The venues will be Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. All matches in this series will be played as day matches. It will also be the first time in five years that Brisbane is not a part of this series.

 

After New Zealand, Australia will head to India for a five Test series, named the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in early 2027, before returning home in March 2027 for a one-off 150 th anniversary Test against England at the MCG.

 

If Australia do not make the World Test Championship final, they may take part in a tour to Sri Lanka in mid-2027. But if they do manage to reach the WTC final, then they will play the match in June 2027. The follow-up may be an away Ashes series to England in mid-2027, though the exact dates will depend on when the WTC final finishes.

 

Also Read | IPL 2026 Start to Be Pushed Back? Here’s When the Tournament May Begin

 

Australia Men's Test Schedule (2026-2027)

 

Date	Against	Venue/County
13-17 Aug 2026	Bangladesh (1st Test)	Marrara Stadium, Darwin
22-26 Aug 2026	Bangladesh (2nd Test)	Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
9-12 Oct 2026	South Africa (1st Test)	Kingsmead, Durban
18-22 Oct 2026	South Africa (2nd Test)	St George's Park, Gqeberha
27-31 Oct 2026	South Africa (3rd Test)	Newlands, Cape Town
Nov 2026	New Zealand (1st Test)	Perth Stadium
Dec 2026	New Zealand (2nd Test)	Adelaide Oval
26-30 Dec 2026	New Zealand (3rd Test)	Melbourne Cricket Ground
Jan 2027	New Zealand (4th Test)	Sydney Cricket Ground
Jan-Feb 2027	India (5 Tests)	India (venues TBC)
11-15 Mar 2027	England (One-off Test)	Melbourne Cricket Ground
June 2027*	WTC Final*	England
June-July 2027	Ashes Away	England

*subject to qualification and confirmation

 

Big Years Ahead for Australia

 

The upcoming two years for the Australian Test side promise a mix of conditions and rivals. The Australian team will take to the blistering heat in Darwin, the fast bouncy tracks in South Africa and spin friendly conditions in India during the course of this time.

 

Major rivalries with South Africa, New Zealand, India and England will take centre stage, along with the prospect of a World Test Championship final and an Ashes series in England. If all goes well for Australia, then the next two years will perhaps be their busiest in over ten years.