Cricket fans across the Caribbean are gearing up for a blockbuster summer of elite international cricket in 2026, after Cricket West Indies (CWI) formally announced the finalized full fixture list for its upcoming Men’s International Home Series, paired with the launch of an ambitious new fan engagement campaign titled “WI OUTSIDE!”.
The 2026 home season will bring three top-ranked global cricket nations to Caribbean shores – Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Pakistan – delivering months of nonstop competitive action across multiple host territories and giving local supporters ample opportunity to cheer on the iconic West Indies men’s team, widely known as the Men in Maroon.
In a key last-minute adjustment to the originally planned schedule, CWI has added Barbados as a co-host for the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, with the final two games of the series now set to take place at Barbados’ venues instead of the original all-Guyana hosting plan. CWI Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring outlined the context behind the collaborative scheduling shift, noting that CWI entered into discussions with the Government of Guyana after identifying unforeseen logistical barriers that would have complicated plans to host all five ODIs in the territory.
Following the initial talks, the governments of Guyana and Barbados put forward a unique cooperative arrangement that would split hosting duties for the five matches, as well as share associated operational costs between the two territories. After securing formal approval from New Zealand Cricket, CWI signed off on the adjusted plan, aligning with the organization’s longstanding commitment to delivering a smooth, memorable experience for players, fans, and communities across the Caribbean. Dehring emphasized CWI’s gratitude for the adaptive, collaborative approach from both regional governments, noting their flexibility and rapid problem-solving ensured the series would move forward without any disruption to the overall 2026 calendar.
The summer of cricket will officially get underway in Jamaica, where the West Indies will face Sri Lanka for a full white-ball series running from June 3 to 14. The opening leg includes three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), before both squads travel to Antigua for a two-match Test series, scheduled for June 25–29 and July 3–7.
Next, the spotlight shifts to the highly anticipated five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Guyana will host the opening three matches on July 11, 13, and 16, before the series wraps up in Barbados with the fourth and fifth ODIs scheduled for July 19 and 21 respectively.
The final stretch of the 2026 home season will be hosted in Trinidad & Tobago, where the Men in Maroon will take on Pakistan for another two-match Test series, with matches set for July 25–29 and August 2–6. This series will mark a historic milestone for one of the region’s newest premier cricket facilities: the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, which will welcome its first-ever official international Test match during the event.
Central to the entire 2026 season is the new “WI OUTSIDE!” fan engagement campaign, which Dehring explained is designed to capture the unmatched energy and cultural spirit that has defined West Indies cricket for generations. He urged supporters across the Caribbean to lean into the communal experience of the 2026 summer, framing the campaign as far more than a marketing slogan.
“West Indies cricket has always been about more than what happens on the field. It is about people, passion, culture, pride, and the unmatched energy that comes alive when our fans rally behind the maroon,” Dehring said. “‘WI OUTSIDE!’ is a celebration of that spirit and an invitation to every cricket fan and proud West Indian to come out, fill the stands, wave their flags, and create the kind of atmosphere that makes West Indies cricket special.”
He added that CWI hopes the 2026 season will grow into a region-wide movement that unites fans and brings them closer to the team at every step of the summer. CWI is already encouraging fans to reserve their tickets early through the organization’s official ticketing platform to secure their spot at matches, and advises supporters to check CWI’s official digital channels for ongoing updates to the “WI OUTSIDE!” campaign and 2026 series schedule.