Another season of the KFC Big Bash League is just around the corner, with 2026-27 being the year of one of the most spectacular premieres in the league’s history. Defending champions Perth Scorchers will face Melbourne Renegades in the opening game of the season, which will take place at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on December 12. This will be a historic event for the league because it will be the first BBL game ever to be played in India, the country where the biggest fans of cricket can be found. Cricket Australia aims to expand its reach by playing the game in India. Six-time champions Perth Scorchers have recently secured their fifth title in the 2025-26 season and are ready to start an impressive season featuring 44 games.
However, the finals will follow the same format of four knockout matches that decide the winners. The Qualifier match, in which the two best teams will face each other, is scheduled to be played on January 19, and the Knockout and Challenger matches are to precede the final match that will be played on January 26 along with its reserve day. The host clubs of the finals will be determined by league positions.
Also Read | ICC Player of The Month Nominees For June Revealed
Everything To Know About BBL 2026-27
Fixtures
BBL 16 will run from December 12, 2026 to January 26, 2027. The competition includes 40 league matches and play-off fixtures. Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers will open the season in Chennai before Brisbane Heat host Sydney Sixers in the first Australian fixture on December 15 at the Gabba. Double-headers are scheduled for Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and the final weekend of the regular season.
Teams
The eight franchises from the cities get back for another championship battle. The Perth Scorchers have been the bar for all these years winning six times and Sydney Sixers have been one of the most formidable teams in this tournament. The teams taking part in the tournament are Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder. Only four teams will progress to the playoffs.
Venues
Besides Chennai, the majority of the matches will take place at various international venues throughout Australia. The MCG, SCG, Adelaide Oval, Gabba, Optus Stadium, and Bellerive Oval are set to be the main hubs. Sydney Thunder will keep the tradition alive by playing two home games at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, and Junction Oval in Melbourne is gearing up to host three matches following some impressive floodlight upgrades.
Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (AEDT) |
| Sat 12 Dec | Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 8:10 PM |
| Tue 15 Dec | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers | The Gabba | 7:15 PM |
| Wed 16 Dec | Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers | Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka | 7:15 PM |
| Thu 17 Dec | Hobart Hurricanes vs Brisbane Heat | Ninja Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Fri 18 Dec | Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers | MCG | 7:15 PM |
| Sat 19 Dec | Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers | ENGIE Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Sun 20 Dec | Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes | Optus Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Mon 21 Dec | Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat | Junction Oval | 7:15 PM |
| Tue 22 Dec | Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades | SCG | 7:15 PM |
| Wed 23 Dec | Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder | Adelaide Oval | 7:15 PM |
| Thu 24 Dec | Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes | Junction Oval | 7:15 PM |
| Sat 26 Dec | Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat | SCG | 6:05 PM |
| Sat 26 Dec | Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars | Optus Stadium | 9:15 PM |
| Sun 27 Dec | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades | ENGIE Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Mon 28 Dec | Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers | The Gabba | 7:15 PM |
| Tue 29 Dec | Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars | Ninja Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Wed 30 Dec | Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder | Optus Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Thu 31 Dec | Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars | Adelaide Oval | 7:15 PM |
| Fri 1 Jan | Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers | MCG | 4:00 PM |
| Fri 1 Jan | Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes | The Gabba | 7:15 PM |
| Sat 2 Jan | Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers | ENGIE Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Sun 3 Jan | Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers | Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka | 7:15 PM |
| Mon 4 Jan | Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades | MCG | 6:05 PM |
| Mon 4 Jan | Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat | Optus Stadium | 9:15 PM |
| Tue 5 Jan | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder | Ninja Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Wed 6 Jan | Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Renegades | Adelaide Oval | 7:15 PM |
| Thu 7 Jan | Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers | MCG | 7:15 PM |
| Fri 8 Jan | Brisbane Heat vs Perth Scorchers | The Gabba | 7:15 PM |
| Sat 9 Jan | Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers | University of Tasmania Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Sun 10 Jan | Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers | SCG | 2:10 PM |
| Sun 10 Jan | Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat | Junction Oval | 7:15 PM |
| Mon 11 Jan | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars | Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka | 7:15 PM |
| Tue 12 Jan | Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes | Adelaide Oval | 7:15 PM |
| Wed 13 Jan | Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades | Optus Stadium | 7:15 PM |
| Thu 14 Jan | Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes | MCG | 7:15 PM |
| Fri 15 Jan | Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder | SCG | 7:15 PM |
| Sat 16 Jan | Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers | Adelaide Oval | 4:00 PM |
| Sat 16 Jan | Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars | MCG | 7:15 PM |
| Sun 17 Jan | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers | Ninja Stadium | 1:40 PM |
| Sun 17 Jan | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder | The Gabba | 7:15 PM |
Squads
Adelaide Strikers: D’Arcy Short, Matthew Short, Chris Lynn, Jake Weatherald, Harry Nielsen, Thomas Kelly, Brendan Doggett, Henry Thornton, Wes Agar, Lloyd Pope, Cameron Boyce, Jason Sangha.
Brisbane Heat: Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth, Lachlan Hearne.
Hobart Hurricanes: Nathan Ellis, Tim David, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Caleb Jewell, Mac Wright, Mitchell Owen, Nikhil Chaudhary, Patrick Dooley, Peter Hatzoglou.
Melbourne Renegades: Adam Zampa, Will Sutherland, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jon Wells, Mackenzie Harvey, Fergus O’Neill, Gurinder Sandhu, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Harry Dixon.
Melbourne Stars: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitch Swepson, Austin Anlezark.
Perth Scorchers: Mitchell Marsh, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Lance Morris, Nick Hobson, Sam Fanning.
Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Todd Murphy, Joel Davies, Kurtis Patterson, Ryan Carters.
Sydney Thunder: David Warner, Chris Green, Oliver Davies, Nathan McAndrew, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Konstas, Blake Nikitaras, Ryan Hadley.
