New Zealand’s Super Smash 2026-27 season will begin on December 27, featuring 64 matches across the men’s and women’s competitions, with the Grand Finals scheduled for January 30 in Auckland.
New Zealand Cricket has confirmed the schedule for the 2026-27 Super Smash season, with the country’s premier domestic T20 competition set to begin on December 27, 2026. The tournament will feature both men’s and women’s competitions, with six teams competing in each category.
The upcoming season will be the final edition of Super Smash in its current format. A total of 64 matches will be played across the two competitions, with the regular season running until January 24, 2027.
The opening round will feature matches in Palmerston North, Auckland and Alexandra. The knockout stage will take place at Kennards Hire Community Oval in Auckland, with the Elimination Finals scheduled for January 28 and the Grand Finals on January 30.
Super Smash 2026-27: Tournament Overview
Source: Cricket World
Super Smash is New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition, featuring six men’s teams and six women’s teams representing different cricket associations across the country.
The 2026-27 season will follow a revised schedule with 10 individual rounds played across 10 match days. Each round will include three men’s matches and three women’s matches, with both competitions following the traditional doubleheader format.
| Tournament Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Super Smash 2026-27 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Organiser | New Zealand Cricket |
| Format | Twenty20 |
| Participating Teams | 6 Men’s and 6 Women’s |
| Total Matches | 64 |
| Start Date | December 27, 2026 |
| Regular Season Ends | January 24, 2027 |
| Elimination Finals | January 28, 2027 |
| Grand Finals | January 30, 2027 |
| Final Venue | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
Super Smash 2026-27: Participating Teams
Six teams will compete in each competition. The men’s tournament will feature the Central Stags, Wellington Firebirds, Auckland Aces, Northern Districts, Otago Volts and Canterbury Kings.
The women’s competition will feature the corresponding teams from the same six cricket associations.
Men’s Teams
- Auckland Aces
- Canterbury Kings
- Central Stags
- Northern Districts
- Otago Volts
- Wellington Firebirds
Women’s Teams
- Auckland Hearts
- Canterbury Magicians
- Central Hinds
- Northern Brave
- Otago Sparks
- Wellington Blaze
Super Smash 2026-27: Opening Fixtures
The first three men’s matches are scheduled for December 27, with Central Stags taking on Wellington Firebirds in Palmerston North. Auckland Aces will face Northern Districts in Auckland, while Otago Volts will meet Canterbury Kings in Alexandra.
| Match | Teams | Venue | Start Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Match | Central Stags vs Wellington Firebirds | Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North | 3:45 PM |
| 2nd Match | Auckland Aces vs Northern Districts | Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland | 4:15 PM |
| 3rd Match | Otago Volts vs Canterbury Kings | Molyneux Park, Alexandra | 4:20 PM |
The opening day will also feature the corresponding women’s fixtures as part of the competition’s doubleheader format.
Super Smash 2026-27: Key Dates and Finals
The regular season will continue through January 24, when teams will complete their scheduled league fixtures. The top sides will then compete in the knockout stage to determine the finalists in both competitions.
The Elimination Finals will take place on January 28, followed by the men’s and women’s Grand Finals on January 30. All four knockout matches will be held at Kennards Hire Community Oval in Auckland.
| Stage | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Season Begins | December 27, 2026 | Multiple venues |
| Regular Season Ends | January 24, 2027 | Multiple venues |
| Elimination Finals | January 28, 2027 | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Grand Finals | January 30, 2027 | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
Super Smash Set for Its Final Season in Current Format
The 2026-27 edition will mark the end of Super Smash in its current format after more than two decades as a major part of New Zealand’s domestic cricket calendar.
New Zealand Cricket has also confirmed changes to the broadcast arrangements. A total of 24 matches will be available free to view on TVNZ+ and TVNZ DUKE, while the remaining matches will be streamed live through New Zealand Cricket’s YouTube channel.
The finals returning to Auckland will bring the competition to a close at the venue that hosted its inaugural final in 2006. With both men’s and women’s titles to be decided on January 30, the season will conclude with a doubleheader finals programme.
