Why Leicestershire and Warwickshire will be among Sussex’s Vitality Blast opponents in 2026
Sussex cricket fans can start to plan their itineraries for next summer after the ECB announced the Vitality Blast fixtures.
Match details for both the men's and women's T20 Vitality Blast competitions for 2026 have been announced, and County Championship and One Day Cup fixtures will be out on Thursday.
Things are a little different this time around in the Blast. The 2026 Men’s Vitality Blast group stage will now consist of three groups. Teams will also play 12 matches, instead of the previous 14.
The Men and Women both begin their T20 campaigns on the same day, with the men travelling to Essex and the women making the trip to Derbyshire on Friday, May 22.
The first home game of the competition for the men's team will take place on Saturday, May 30, in front of the Sky cameras, with Middlesex the visitors to The 1st Central County Ground.
Other group games for the men are: Kent (A) on Monday, May 25; Hants (A) on Tuesday, June 2; Kent (H) on Sunday, June 7; Surrey (H) on Friday, June 26, Essex (H) on Friday, July 3; Surrey (A) on Wednesday, July 8, Middlesex (A) on Friday, July 10, Hants (H) on Sunday, July 12
Each county will play each team in their group home and away (10 matches), plus another two teams from other groups in what will be known as crossover matches. This will bring the total matches to 12.
The Sharks will play Leicestershire at home for the first time ever in the Blast on Friday, June 5, with the second of the crossover matches coming against the Bears at Edgbaston on Wednesday, July 1.
The two teams at the top of each group, plus the best two third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. Finals Day at Edgbaston will be on Saturday, July 18.
The Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 (Tier 2) will maintain eight group-stage matches, but move to a single group – changing from North and South Groups in 2025 – with a three-team Finals Day.
The Sussex Women's team will play four fixtures at home venues in the Blast, with the first taking place on Sunday, May 31 when they welcome Glamorgan to Hove.
The men’s and women’s teams will play on the same day at Hove on two occasions: first on Friday, June 5, when both sides face Leicestershire, and again on Friday, July 3, with the men playing Essex and the women playing Northamptonshire.
The Women's Finals Day is set to take place on Sunday 12th July at Sophia Gardens.
All remaining fixtures for the County Championship and Metro Bank One Day Cup will be announced on Thursday at 10am.
T20 Blast Passes for 2026 are now on general sale. Passes are limited so Sussex officials recommend acting fast to avoid disappointment. If you're a Sussex member, you're entitled to a discount off an Adult Blast Pass.
A Blast Pass gives you entry to all 10 of the men's and women's home group T20 matches in 2026. Prices start at £120 for adults and £35 for children.
See the Sussex CCC website for all the Blast fixtures – with the other matches to be added later in the week.