The region’s premier T20 cricket competition, Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), has teamed up with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Faculty of Sport to launch the 2026 iteration of its highly regarded annual internship programme, marking a decade of bridging academic learning and professional sports experience for young Caribbean talent.
First launched a decade ago, this innovative initiative has carved out a reputation for blending structured academic coursework with immersive, on-the-ground experience at one of the Caribbean’s most high-profile annual sporting events. This year’s programme will run from July through September 2026, aligned with the 2026 CPL tournament schedule, and organizers have opened applications for interested students immediately.
A total of 21 selected participants will be accepted into the 2026 cohort, with a unique option to complete a fully accredited three-credit course in Sports Marketing, developed and delivered entirely online by UWI’s experienced sport faculty. The coursework is designed to build a robust theoretical foundation in sports marketing strategy, which interns will immediately put into practice as active contributing members of the CPL marketing team throughout the tournament.
Unlike many classroom-only internships, this programme places participants directly at the heart of tournament operations across all seven 2026 CPL host nations: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago. This cross-territory immersive placement gives young professionals unparalleled front-row access to the inner workings of an international sporting competition, while letting them play a tangible role in CPL’s on-location promotional and outreach work.
Over the past nine years, the programme has transformed the career trajectories of dozens of emerging sport industry professionals across the Caribbean. A large number of past interns have gone on to secure full-time paid positions with CPL itself, as well as with leading organizations across the global sports and entertainment sectors.
Reflecting on the programme’s 10-year milestone, CPL CEO Pete Russell emphasized the lasting impact of the partnership. “It is incredibly rewarding to see how many young Caribbean professionals have used this opportunity as a launchpad for their careers,” Russell said. “The internship gives students genuine hands-on experience in a fast-paced international sporting environment, and every year they make an important contribution to the CPL team. With the addition of Jamaica as a new host venue for 2026, this year’s programme promises to be our biggest and most exciting yet.”
Interested applicants can submit their materials for the 2026 internship through the official application link published alongside the programme announcement.