The England and Wales Cricket Board just released the official schedule for the 2027 Men's Ashes, and if you live north of the Midlands, you have every right to feel furious.
For the first time in well over a century, neither Headingley nor Emirates Old Trafford will host a Men's Ashes Test match. Think about that for a second. Two of cricket's most legendary cathedrals, grounds that produced Ben Stokes’ heroics in 2019 and Shane Warne’s ball of the century in 1993, have been completely bypassed for the biggest men's Test series on English soil.
Instead, the five-match series against Australia will kick off at Trent Bridge, move to Lord’s, head across to Edgbaston, travel down to the Utilita Bowl in Southampton for its inaugural Men's Ashes Test, and finish at The Kia Oval.
Southampton gets a Men's Ashes Test. Leeds and Manchester get zero.
It’s a massive gamble by ECB executives, and frankly, it feels like a slap in the face to millions of passionate northern cricket supporters. Here is the breakdown of what the 2027 summer looks like, why the venue selection is causing such a uproar, and what you need to know if you plan on getting tickets.
The Full 2027 Mens Ashes Fixture List
Let's look at the dates and venues for the five Men's Ashes Tests coming up in the summer of 2027.
The action begins early in the summer, squeezing all five Tests into a tight six-week window from mid-June to early August.
- 1st Ashes Test: June 18 – June 22 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
- 2nd Ashes Test: June 30 – July 4 at Lord’s, London
- 3rd Ashes Test: July 8 – July 12 at Edgbaston, Birmingham
- 4th Ashes Test: July 21 – July 25 at Utilita Bowl, Southampton
- 5th Ashes Test: July 29 – August 2 at The Kia Oval, London
Looking at that map, the geographical concentration is undeniable. Three of the five Tests take place in London and the South Coast. Two are in the Midlands. Zero are in Yorkshire, Lancashire, or the North East.
To find the last time a home Men's Ashes series featured no Test matches at either Headingley or Old Trafford, you have to look back to the early days of international cricket in the 19th century. Headingley has hosted Ashes cricket continuously for generations, providing some of the most dramatic moments in the history of the sport. Old Trafford boasts a rich history of its own, including the incredible drama of the 2005 series and the thrilling rain-affected Test in 2023.
Stripping both historic grounds of a Men's Ashes Test in the exact same summer is a unprecedented move.
Why the North Was Cut Out
How did we end up here? Money, modern venue infrastructure, and long-term bidding guarantees.
Back in 2023, the ECB ran a high-stakes tender process for major match allocations covering the years 2025 through 2031. Venues across England and Wales were required to submit commercial bids, financial guarantees, and stadium upgrade plans to secure rights for prime international matches.
Hampshire Cricket, operating out of the Utilita Bowl (formerly known as the Ageas Bowl), put together an aggressive bidding package. They invested heavily in ground facilities, hotel integration, transport links, and spectator hospitality. The ECB rewarded that investment by granting Southampton its first-ever Men's Ashes Test match in 2027.
Meanwhile, London’s two venues—Lord’s and The Oval—are non-negotiable fixtures for any home Ashes series due to their seating capacity and immense revenue potential. That left Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, Headingley, and Old Trafford fighting over the remaining two slots.
Edgbaston secured a Test match thanks to its electric atmosphere and track record of delivering huge corporate hospitality yields. Trent Bridge won the opening Test slot, backed by England's recent stellar record at the ground, having won their last three Ashes encounters in Nottingham, including the famous 2015 match where Australia fell for 60.
That left Headingley and Old Trafford on the outside looking in.
The ECB claims the distribution across the broader 2025–2031 cycle is fair, pointing out that both Yorkshire and Lancashire will host India Test matches in other summers. But when it comes to the pinnacle of Test cricket—a home Men's Ashes against Australia—the north of England has been completely locked out for 2027.
What Northern Fans Are Getting Instead
While the men’s team won't be playing Test cricket in the north, the ECB has attempted to balance the scales by placing significant fixtures in Leeds and Manchester across other formats.
The headline act for northern cricket fans in 2027 will be the Women's Ashes. England Women will launch their multi-format Ashes campaign with a standalone Test match at Headingley from June 24 to June 27. It will be the first Women's Ashes Test held in Leeds since 2001, providing a major stage for the women's game.
Here is what else is scheduled for northern venues during the 2027 summer.
Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester
- June 7 – June 10: Australia v England Lions 4-day warm-up match
- May 19: England Men v Pakistan 2nd ODI
- July 9: England Women v Australia 3rd T20I
- September 9: England Men v New Zealand 2nd T20I
Headingley in Leeds
- June 24 – June 27: England Women v Australia Women's Ashes Test Match
- May 21: England Men v Pakistan 3rd ODI
- September 25: England Men v New Zealand 5th ODI
Seat Unique Riverside in Chester-le-Street
- May 23: England Men v Pakistan 4th ODI
- September 7: England Men v New Zealand 1st T20I
While having a full-strength England Lions team face Australia in a four-day warm-up fixture at Old Trafford is a intriguing addition, a warm-up game or a white-ball match simply does not carry the weight or prestige of Day 3 of a Men's Ashes Test with the series on the line.
Southampton Makes History at the Utilita Bowl
On the flip side of this decision, Hampshire Cricket is celebrating a monumental achievement. Hosting a Men's Ashes Test match has been a multi-decade ambition for the county since opening the venue in 2001.
The Utilita Bowl has successfully hosted major international fixtures, including the 2021 ICC World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand. However, securing a Men's Ashes Test represents the absolute pinnacle of domestic hosting rights.
For traveling supporters, Southampton offers a very different environment compared to traditional city-center grounds like Headingley or Edgbaston. The stadium is located on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by countryside, with an integrated Hilton hotel overlooking the boundary.
The fourth Test from July 21 to July 25 could prove to be the pivotal match of the series, and local organizers are expecting sell-out crowds across all five days.
The Rest of the 2027 Home Summer
The Ashes isn't the only show in town during the packed 2027 international season. English cricket fans will see a high volume of international matches from mid-May through late September.
Before the Ashes begins, England Men will host Pakistan for a five-match One Day International series in May, serving as early-season preparation. Right after that, Lord's will host a one-off Test match against Bangladesh from May 28 to June 1. It marks the first time Bangladesh has played a Test match on English soil since 2010.
The Kia Oval will also host the ICC World Test Championship Final from June 9 to June 13, bringing the top two Test teams in the world to London just days before the Ashes action begins at Trent Bridge.
To round out the summer in September, England Men will face New Zealand in a multi-format white-ball series featuring three T20s and five ODIs across the country.
How to Secure Tickets for the 2027 Ashes
If you want to attend any of the 2027 Men's or Women's Ashes matches, you need to prepare well in advance. Demand will far outweigh supply, especially for the high-capacity venues like Lord's and The Oval, as well as the debut Test at Southampton.
Here is your exact action plan to give yourself the best chance of getting seats.
1. Register with County Ballot Systems
Do not wait for general public sales. Most grounds distribute the majority of their Test match tickets through public ballots that open nearly a year in advance.
- Sign up for ballot alerts directly on the official websites for Nottinghamshire (Trent Bridge), Warwickshire (Edgbaston), Hampshire (Utilita Bowl), Surrey (The Oval), and MCC (Lord's).
- Register for the ECB’s official ticket database to receive priority notification windows.
2. Consider County Membership Options
If you are determined to secure tickets for high-demand days, purchasing a venue membership or a priority pass for the 2027 season is often the most reliable path. Members almost always receive priority access to international tickets before public ballots open.
3. Track the Women's Ashes Ticket Window
Tickets for the Women's Ashes Test at Headingley and the subsequent T20 and ODI matches will go on sale through similar ballot processes. Given the lower price points and growing popularity, these matches offer incredible value for fans who want to experience high-stakes Ashes cricket in the north.
4. Plan Travel and Accommodation Early
If you live in the north and plan to travel south for the Men's Ashes, book your accommodation the moment match dates are confirmed. Hotels near Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, and the Utilita Bowl fill up rapidly, with prices surging as match days approach. Direct train routes from Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle to Birmingham and London will be heavily used throughout late June and July.
