Women’s county cricket: teams, grounds and tickets

How the women’s county game works

Women’s county cricket offers a choice of a short T20 visit or a longer 50-over day, with the same county identities and many of the grounds used by the men. The ECB’s domestic guide explains the three-tier system introduced in 2025. Tier 1 is the professional top level; Tier 2 contains the remaining first-class counties, while National County teams play in Tier 3.

For 2026, Yorkshire’s arrival made nine teams in each of the top two tiers. Glamorgan moves into Tier 1 for 2027, as confirmed in the ECB’s structure announcement. Choose a team by county and then use its current fixture list: an older regional team name can lead you to the wrong programme. Nottinghamshire’s women are The Blaze, a name still used in the county competition.

The Hundred and England women have separate fixtures and tickets. A county women’s match at the Oval or Headingley does not require an international ballot simply because England also play there. Equally, a ticket for an England match or a Hundred team does not automatically admit you to the county side. Start with the county name and competition printed on the event listing.

Teams, home grounds and tickets

The table shows the 18 first-class counties in the 2026 women’s structure, with Glamorgan’s announced 2027 change noted. Linked venues have visitor guides. Ground names are places to check in the published home programme, rather than a promise that every women’s fixture uses the main stadium. Admission descriptions retain their season because memberships and free-entry offers can change.

Look across the whole row before buying. A women’s season ticket can cover stand-alone matches while a men’s and women’s double-header uses another ticket category. An outground may also ask members to reserve a free ticket. The county’s fixture-specific notice is the best place to settle those details, especially for knockout matches and festival dates.

Choose a T20 or a 50-over day

The women’s Vitality Blast is the T20 competition; the Metro Bank One Day Cup is the 50-over competition. Each has separate top-tier and League 2 tournaments. If you want a shorter first visit, choose a T20 and read its actual start time. A 50-over fixture gives more time to settle into the ground and follow the changing balance between batting and bowling.

Under the published 2026 format changes, top-tier teams had 12 Blast group matches and 16 One Day Cup group matches. League 2 used one group of nine counties, each meeting the others once in each competition. Those are 2026 arrangements: the ECB said another review would take place before Glamorgan joined the top tier in 2027.

The knockout routes also differ. In the 2026 top-tier Blast, four counties qualified for two semi-finals and a final on Finals Day. The One Day Cup used a second-versus-third eliminator before the final against the league leader. Match length is only one part of planning: a final, double-header or weather interruption can mean a different departure time from a routine league fixture.

Tier 3 and the all-county cup

County cricket extends beyond the clubs in the table. The 2026 Tier 3 regulations list 19 teams, including the combined Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire side. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northumberland, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk and Wiltshire complete that programme.

Tier 3 has its own divisions within the 50-over and T20 competitions. Movement between those internal divisions should not be confused with promotion to Tier 2: the regulations distinguish the two. For a nearby match, use the relevant county cricket board’s fixtures and follow the named club ground, since a county label does not identify the entrance or postcode.

The Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup brings teams from all three tiers together in a separate knockout tournament. Its 2026 schedule began with Tier 2 and Tier 3 ties, with the nine Tier 1 teams entering in round three. Check whether an advertised cup match is this all-tier competition or the One Day Cup; the similar names can otherwise send you to the wrong fixture.

How to find the right fixture

Use our fixture finder to choose a ground and competition, then follow the county’s official match link for tickets and the latest arrangements. The 2027 women’s fixture page gives the publication position. The complete 2027 women’s county schedule is TBC; confirmed tier changes do not supply match dates, opponents or start times.

The ECB published distinct 2026 women’s One Day Cup and 2026 women’s Blast schedules. They are useful for seeing how stadium games, club grounds and double-headers fit together. When comparing seasons, keep the year visible. A 2026 festival date is useful background for a venue, but cannot reserve a place in a 2027 diary.

Before arranging travel, confirm the home team, exact venue, calendar date and start time together. Then check the event’s ticket status. A fixture can be announced before tickets are released, and a ground can host several different teams. Save the county’s matchday information as well as the ticket so you have gate details and any weather updates close to departure.

Free entry, match tickets and membership

Women’s county admission varies by county and event. Middlesex’s 19 April 2026 match preview offered free entry at Radlett. Sussex likewise advertised free admission for Worcestershire’s 19 April 2026 visit to Hove. These are specific examples, not a blanket rule for every women’s match or every competition at those grounds.

Surrey’s arrangements show why the venue matters. Its Beckenham matchday guide offered free tickets with advance registration. For Guildford on 19 August 2026, published 2026 prices were £10 for adults and £1 for children; members had to obtain a £0 ticket. Registering or booking still matters when the amount payable is zero.

If you expect several visits, compare the county’s women’s membership with individual match tickets. Leicestershire’s 2027 membership announcement includes a free women’s option and an optional Women’s Plus package at £19.99 for the 2027 season. Other counties offer paid women’s memberships or include women’s matches in wider packages. Use our county membership comparison to check the inclusion rather than assuming all categories are equivalent.

Main stadium or outground?

A main-ground fixture can be a convenient way to learn the layout before another cricket visit. Follow the ground guide’s transport and accessibility sections, but check which gates and seating areas the county will open for your women’s match. A stand that appears on the seating plan may be unavailable for that particular event.

Outgrounds give you a different choice of setting. The 2026 programme included Yorkshire Women at Scarborough and York, The Blaze at Chesterfield, and Lancashire at Southport. Surrey also used Beckenham as well as Guildford. Follow the named home team’s booking route even when the ground is associated with another county.

For a club or school venue, ask about accessible viewing, toilets, drop-off and whether personal seating is permitted. Pack for the whole time you plan to stay, rather than the weather at the first ball. Our sun and shade guide can help with published seating information; the match notice settles temporary arrangements and the areas open on the day.

What a day at a women’s county match is like

For a first visit, choose the length of day that suits your group and leave time to find your seat before play begins. You can enjoy the contest without learning every fielding position in advance: follow the runs, wickets and overs on the scoreboard, then watch how the captain changes the field as the innings develops.

A double-header is a chance to watch two county matches on one trip, but requires more planning than a single T20. Confirm whether one ticket covers both games, which seating is reserved and whether you can leave and return between matches. The ECB’s 2026 Blast schedule explicitly marks double-headers, which makes it easier to distinguish them from stand-alone women’s games.

For families, decide on shade, food and a convenient journey home before choosing a seat. Ask the county about junior tickets and any activities advertised for the exact date. Bring a refillable water bottle if permitted, sun protection and a waterproof layer. Read taking the family and the venue’s bag and food rules, since event conditions can differ from another format at the same ground.

Quick answers

Which counties have professional women’s teams?

In 2026 the nine Tier 1 teams are Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, The Blaze (Nottinghamshire), Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire and Yorkshire. Glamorgan joins Tier 1 for 2027.

Is women’s county cricket free to watch?

Some matches offer free admission, while others need paid tickets or a membership. For example, Middlesex offered free entry at Radlett on 19 April 2026; check the selected event’s own admission notice.

Do women’s teams play at the main county grounds?

Yes, and many also use outgrounds. Follow the venue printed against the individual fixture; the home county’s name alone does not identify where the match is being played.

What is the difference between the Blast and the One Day Cup?

The women’s Vitality Blast is T20 cricket, while the Metro Bank One Day Cup is a 50-over competition. Both have separate Tier 1 and League 2 tournaments.

Does county membership include women’s matches?

Several counties include women’s matches in adult or women’s memberships, but the entitlement depends on the package, season and event. Check double-headers, outgrounds and knockouts separately.

Are the 2027 women’s county fixtures available?

The full 2027 women’s county fixture list is TBC. Use the ECB and county fixture pages for publication updates, and keep 2026 examples separate from the new season.

Is The Blaze a county team?

Yes. The Blaze is Nottinghamshire’s women’s team in the county structure, with Trent Bridge and other named venues appearing in its home programme.

Can I use a Hundred ticket for a women’s county match?

The Hundred and women’s county competitions have separate fixtures and admission arrangements. Buy or reserve the ticket listed for the county event you want to attend.

Sources

• Structure
• Changes
• Pyramid
• One Day
• T20
• Cup
• League3
• Berkshire
• Beckenham
• Guildford
• Surrey
• Blaze
• Notts Member
• Durham
• Essex
• Hampshire
• Lancashire
• Somerset
• Warwickshire
• Yorkshire
• Derbyshire
• Glamorgan
• Gloucestershire
• Kent
• Leicestershire
• Middlesex
• Northamptonshire
• Sussex
• Worcestershire
• Worcestershire 2026 results
• Derbyshire women’s admission
• Leicestershire women’s admission
• Yorkshire women’s admission

Plan the rest of your visit

• Plan your day
• County cricket explained
• 2027 fixtures