The Ford Trophy 2026-27: Schedule, Teams, Fixtures, Dates, Venues and Complete Guide
The Ford Trophy 2026-27 is New Zealand’s domestic men’s 50-over cricket competition, featuring six major associations competing for the national one-day title. The tournament begins on 28 October 2026 and concludes with the Grand Final on 21 February 2027. New Zealand Cricket has confirmed the complete fixture schedule, with matches spread across several regions of the country.
The participating teams are Auckland Aces, Central Stags, Northern Districts, Wellington Firebirds, Canterbury and Otago Volts. The competition features 10 league rounds, followed by an Elimination Final between the second- and third-placed teams and a Grand Final involving the top qualifier and the elimination winner.
Central Stags enter the new season as defending champions after defeating Canterbury in the 2025-26 final. The upcoming campaign also brings domestic one-day cricket to a range of venues, including Saxton Oval, Hagley Oval, the Cello Basin Reserve and University of Otago Oval.
The Ford Trophy 2026-27 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | The Ford Trophy |
| Edition | 2026-27 |
| Format | List A, 50-over cricket |
| Start Date | 28 October 2026 |
| End Date | 21 February 2027 |
| Host Country | New Zealand |
| Number of Teams | 6 |
| League Matches | 30 |
| Finals | 2 |
| Total Matches | 32 |
| Organizing Body | New Zealand Cricket |
| Defending Champions | Central Stags |
| Final Venue | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
Participating Teams
Six major association teams will compete in the Ford Trophy 2026-27.
- Auckland Aces: Auckland’s representative men’s team, scheduled to begin its campaign against Canterbury on 28 October.
- Central Stags: The defending champions from Central Districts, who open the tournament against Northern Districts at Saxton Oval.
- Northern Districts: The northern region’s representative team, with early fixtures against Central Stags and Auckland Aces.
- Wellington Firebirds: Wellington’s men’s team, which opens against Otago Volts at the Cello Basin Reserve.
- Canterbury: The previous season’s runners-up, who start away against Auckland Aces.
- Otago Volts: Otago’s representative team, which begins against Wellington Firebirds in Wellington.
These are the six established associations participating in the competition. Final player lists for the 2026-27 campaign should be checked against official team announcements.
The Ford Trophy 2026-27 Complete Schedule
New Zealand Cricket has released the fixtures for all 10 league rounds and both finals. The schedule below follows the official fixture document.
Round 1 — 28 October 2026
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland Aces vs Canterbury | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| 2 | Central Stags vs Northern Districts | Saxton Oval, Nelson |
| 3 | Wellington Firebirds vs Otago Volts | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
Round 2 — 31 October 2026
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Northern Districts vs Auckland Aces | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
| 5 | Wellington Firebirds vs Canterbury | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| 6 | Otago Volts vs Central Stags | University of Otago Oval, Dunedin |
Round 3 — 4 November 2026
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Central Stags vs Auckland Aces | Saxton Oval, Nelson |
| 8 | Wellington Firebirds vs Northern Districts | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| 9 | Otago Volts vs Canterbury | University of Otago Oval, Dunedin |
Round 4 — 8 November 2026
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Northern Districts vs Otago Volts | Cobham Oval, Whangārei |
| 11 | Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| 12 | Central Stags vs Canterbury | McLean Park, Napier |
Round 5 — 12 November 2026
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Auckland Aces vs Otago Volts | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| 14 | Central Stags vs Wellington Firebirds | McLean Park, Napier |
| 15 | Canterbury vs Northern Districts | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
The competition pauses after the opening five rounds before resuming in February.
Round 6 — 3 February 2027
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Auckland Aces vs Wellington Firebirds | Auckland; ground not specified in the official schedule |
| 17 | Central Stags vs Canterbury | Pukekura Park, New Plymouth |
| 18 | Otago Volts vs Northern Districts | Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown |
Round 7 — 5 and 7 February 2027
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 5 February | Canterbury vs Auckland Aces | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| 20 | 7 February | Northern Districts vs Wellington Firebirds | Cobham Oval, Whangārei |
| 21 | 7 February | Central Stags vs Otago Volts | Pukekura Park, New Plymouth |
Round 8 — 10 February 2027
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Auckland Aces vs Central Stags | Auckland; ground not specified in the official schedule |
| 23 | Northern Districts vs Canterbury | Cobham Oval, Whangārei |
| 24 | Otago Volts vs Wellington Firebirds | University of Otago Oval, Dunedin |
Round 9 — 13 February 2027
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Northern Districts vs Central Stags | Bay Oval, Tauranga |
| 26 | Canterbury vs Wellington Firebirds | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| 27 | Otago Volts vs Auckland Aces | Queen’s Park, Invercargill |
Round 10 — 16 February 2027
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Auckland Aces vs Northern Districts | Auckland; ground not specified in the official schedule |
| 29 | Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| 30 | Canterbury vs Otago Volts | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
Finals
| Match | Date | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elimination Final | 19 February 2027 | Second place vs third place | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| Grand Final | 21 February 2027 | First place vs Elimination Final winner | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
The complete schedule contains 30 league matches and two finals. The exact final participants will be determined by the league standings.
Venues
The Ford Trophy schedule uses grounds across New Zealand, giving the six associations opportunities to play at home and at regional venues.
| Venue | City or Region |
|---|---|
| Kennards Hire Community Oval | Auckland |
| Saxton Oval | Nelson |
| Bay Oval | Tauranga |
| Cello Basin Reserve | Wellington |
| University of Otago Oval | Dunedin |
| McLean Park | Napier |
| Hagley Oval | Christchurch |
| Cobham Oval | Whangārei |
| Pukekura Park | New Plymouth |
| Sir John Davies Oval | Queenstown |
| Queen’s Park | Invercargill |
The Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington is the designated venue for both finals. It also hosts several Wellington Firebirds league fixtures.
Team Squads
The squads have not yet been officially announced in the sources reviewed for this guide.
The six participating associations are established, but their final Ford Trophy 2026-27 tournament squads should not be inferred from contracted-player lists or previous-season selections. This section should be updated when official squad announcements become available.
Tournament Format
The Ford Trophy 2026-27 follows a six-team, 50-over format. Each association competes across 10 league rounds before the knockout stage.
The competition structure is:
- League stage: Six teams contest 30 matches across 10 rounds.
- Direct Grand Final qualification: The team finishing first in the league standings advances directly to the Grand Final.
- Elimination Final: The second- and third-placed teams meet on 19 February 2027.
- Grand Final: The top qualifier faces the Elimination Final winner on 21 February 2027.
This format rewards consistency across the league stage while giving the second- and third-placed teams a route to the title through the elimination match.
Important Rules
The detailed playing conditions should be checked in New Zealand Cricket’s official 2026-27 Ford Trophy playing-conditions document. Points allocation, tie procedures and any competition-specific provisions should not be assumed without consulting that document.
Previous Edition
The 2025-26 Ford Trophy final was played at the Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington on 22 February 2026. Canterbury faced Central Stags in a high-scoring contest, with Central Stags winning by six wickets.
Canterbury entered the final as the top qualifier and was attempting to secure a third consecutive title. Central Stags, however, completed the chase to claim their first Ford Trophy championship since 2023.
The final was notable for its high scoring: three centuries contributed to a match total of 605 runs. It provided a strong finish to the previous domestic one-day season.
Defending Champions
Central Stags are the defending champions for the 2026-27 season. Their six-wicket victory over Canterbury in the previous final secured the title after a campaign in which both teams were among the strongest sides in the competition.
Central will now seek to defend its crown across the 10-round league stage and the finals. Its opening fixture is against Northern Districts at Saxton Oval on 28 October 2026.
Previous Season Runner-Up
Canterbury finished as the runner-up in 2025-26 after losing the Grand Final to Central Stags by six wickets. The team had qualified directly for the final after finishing at the top of the standings.
Canterbury begins the 2026-27 competition away to Auckland Aces on 28 October. Its other early fixtures include matches against Wellington Firebirds, Otago Volts and Central Stags.
Key Players to Watch
Final 2026-27 squads have not yet been confirmed in the sources reviewed, so it would be premature to present a definitive list of this season’s participants.
The previous final highlighted several players who made significant contributions in 2025-26:
- Henry Nicholls: Canterbury’s leading batter for the season, finishing with 588 runs.
- Tom Latham: Another major contributor for Canterbury, scoring 538 runs during the campaign.
- Will Young: Produced a century in Central Stags’ Elimination Final victory over Wellington.
- Josh Clarkson: Finished among the leading bowling performers in the 2025-26 competition.
These names reflect previous-season performances, not confirmation of selection for the upcoming tournament. Their 2026-27 availability should be checked against official team announcements.
Key Matches
Several fixtures stand out on the confirmed schedule because of their place in the tournament and the previous season’s results.
Central Stags vs Northern Districts — 28 October: The defending champions open their campaign against Northern Districts at Saxton Oval.
Auckland Aces vs Canterbury — 28 October: Canterbury begins its attempt to return to the final with an away fixture against Auckland.
Central Stags vs Canterbury — 8 November: A meeting between the previous season’s finalists during the first block of league matches.
Canterbury vs Central Stags — 16 February: The teams meet again late in the league stage, close to the end of the qualification race.
Elimination Final — 19 February: The second- and third-placed teams compete for a place in the final.
Grand Final — 21 February: The season’s title will be decided at the Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Records and History
The Ford Trophy has a long history in New Zealand domestic cricket, featuring the country’s major associations and providing a platform for players pursuing higher honours.
New Zealand Cricket’s published list of recent winners includes:
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Central Stags |
| 2024-25 | Canterbury |
| 2023-24 | Canterbury |
| 2022-23 | Central Stags |
| 2021-22 | Auckland Aces |
| 2020-21 | Canterbury |
| 2019-20 | Auckland Aces |
| 2018-19 | Wellington Firebirds |
| 2017-18 | Auckland Aces |
| 2016-17 | Canterbury |
Canterbury and Central Stags have shared the title across the last four editions, with Canterbury winning back-to-back championships in 2023-24 and 2024-25 before Central claimed the 2025-26 trophy.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Tournament begins | 28 October 2026 |
| Opening league round | 28 October 2026 |
| First league block concludes | 12 November 2026 |
| League matches resume | 3 February 2027 |
| Final league round | 16 February 2027 |
| Elimination Final | 19 February 2027 |
| Grand Final | 21 February 2027 |
| Tournament concludes | 21 February 2027 |
What to Expect
The Ford Trophy 2026-27 will bring together six established New Zealand associations for a 50-over competition that spans the spring and summer. The schedule begins in late October, pauses after the first five rounds and resumes in February before the finals weekend.
Central Stags will aim to retain the title, while Canterbury will attempt to return to the top after finishing runner-up last season. Auckland Aces, Northern Districts, Wellington Firebirds and Otago Volts will also compete for a place among the top three.
The 10-round structure makes consistency important: only the top three teams progress to the finals, and the league leader earns direct entry to the Grand Final. Official squads and any further team announcements will provide more detail as the opening match approaches.
FAQs
When does the Ford Trophy 2026-27 start?
The tournament begins on 28 October 2026, with three opening-round matches scheduled across Auckland, Nelson and Wellington.
When does the Ford Trophy 2026-27 end?
The competition concludes on 21 February 2027 with the Grand Final at the Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington.
How many teams are participating in the Ford Trophy 2026-27?
Six teams are participating: Auckland Aces, Central Stags, Northern Districts, Wellington Firebirds, Canterbury and Otago Volts.
How many matches are scheduled?
The published schedule contains 30 league matches, an Elimination Final and a Grand Final, for a total of 32 matches.
Who are the defending champions?
Central Stags are the defending champions after defeating Canterbury by six wickets in the 2025-26 Grand Final.
Have the Ford Trophy 2026-27 squads been announced?
The final tournament squads have not been confirmed in the sources reviewed for this guide. Player lists should be updated after official announcements from the teams or New Zealand Cricket.
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