The 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is just around the corner, and the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons have officially kicked off their campaign journey, departing their home nation on Wednesday for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to compete in the upcoming T20 tournament.
The Falcons’ first test of the new season will come against an expansion side, the newly launched Jamaica Kingsmen, in the season’s opening fixture on August 7. The clash will get underway at 7 p.m. local time at Kingstown’s Arnos Vale Stadium, marking a historic milestone for the host nation: this is the first time St. Vincent and the Grenadines has ever been selected to host official CPL matches.
In the lead-up to their departure, the Falcons’ full core squad gathered at Antigua’s Liberta Sports Club in Ball Beef for a rigorous four-day preseason training camp, designed to get the team match-ready ahead of the opening round. The intensive camp created a dedicated space for players and coaching staff to align on strategy, evaluate individual and group preparations, and build the on- and off-field cohesion that top-tier T20 competition demands.
Speaking on the value of the preseason gathering, Falcons head coach Paul Nixon emphasized that the four-day block did far more than refine on-field technique. “The impact of an in-person preseason camp can’t be overstated,” Nixon explained. “It’s where players and coaching staff build real relationships and trust with one another. We have meaningful conversations, we build collective confidence, and players get accustomed to the local pitch surfaces they’ll compete on later. This camp lays the foundation for our team culture, so we can move into the tournament as a unified group. It lets players learn each other’s playing styles, and it also gives the coaching staff the chance to get to know our players as people, not just athletes.”
Sabrina Webster, the Falcons’ Head of Operations, echoed Nixon’s comments, noting that the training camp was a non-negotiable part of the franchise’s full-season preparation strategy. “This camp is critical because it guarantees our players are physically and mentally prepared to step onto the pitch when the tournament starts,” Webster said. “It gives them dedicated time to work together, develop a shared understanding of how each person operates, and build the team synergy that wins close matches. That synergy is exactly what we’ve been working to build ahead of this campaign.”
Beyond training, the camp also strengthened the Falcons’ long-standing ties to the Liberta community, a tightly knit cricket-loving region that has deep connections to the franchise. Several key members of the Falcons organization hail from Liberta: star players Rahkeem Cornwall and Karima Gore, assistant coach Wilden Cornwall, and legendary bowling coach Sir Curtly Ambrose all count the community as their home.
The president of Liberta Sports Club, who also serves as the venue’s lead curator, shared that the entire community was honored to host the Falcons for their preseason preparations. “We were incredibly proud that the franchise chose our facility for their camp,” he said. “I can also say the team was really pleased with the quality of our pitches and the entire facility — they were very impressed. There was even talk about returning here for future preseason camps, which is a huge compliment to our work.”
The decision to base preseason preparations in Liberta also highlights the Falcons’ ongoing commitment to deepening connections with communities across Antigua and Barbuda, rather than centering all operations solely in major population centers. The club president, Benjamin, shared his optimistic outlook for the Falcons’ 2026 campaign after watching the team train over the four days. “Based on what I’ve seen here, I believe the Falcons are set up for a really good season,” Benjamin said. “They’ve added exciting new signings, and they’ve retained a lot of key talent from last year’s squad. Obviously T20 cricket is incredibly dynamic — one bad over can change the course of your whole tournament. But the energy and focus I’ve seen from the team over these last four days tells me they’re hungry for this season, and they’re leaving Antigua in great form.”
After the opening match against the Jamaica Kingsmen, the Falcons will remain at Arnos Vale Stadium for their second fixture on August 9, where they will face off against the St. Lucia Kings. The team will then return home to Antigua to host four consecutive home matches between August 20 and 25 at the iconic Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, marketed by the franchise as the “Home of Party Cricket,” where fans can experience the unique blend of elite cricket and Caribbean celebration the team is known for.
For the 2026 campaign, the Falcons have adopted the fan-focused theme “Come for the Fete. Stay for the Match,” which reflects the franchise’s goal of blending top-tier competitive cricket with authentic Antiguan and Barbudan cultural celebration for all attendees. Even before the team returns home for their home stand, the celebration will kick off early with two official watch parties hosted at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium’s Party Stand, starting at 6 p.m. local time on August 7 and August 9, for fans who want to cheer on the Falcons together during their opening fixtures in St. Vincent.