PROVIDENCE, Guyana – In a historic move for Caribbean cricket, Kensington Oval in Barbados will host the final of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the first time in 2026.
This major announcement was made by CPL chief executive officer Pete Russell, who also revealed that Guyana would play host to its fourth consecutive CPL final in 2025.
“Guyana and Barbados have been amazing partners for CPL over the last 12 years,” said Russell. “It is really exciting to be able to announce that they will be hosts for the finals in 2025 and 2026, respectively. We would like to thank the governments of both Guyana and Barbados who have agreed to host the conclusion of CPL.”
Rich CPL history
Barbados has a rich CPL history, having won the tournament twice – in 2014 and 2019 – when the team was known as the Barbados Tridents. The opportunity to host the final at Kensington Oval, often referred to as ‘The Mecca of Cricket,’ marks a significant milestone for Barbados in the CPL.
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, expressed her excitement at the announcement: “I am so happy to say that the CPL finals in 2026 will be in Bridgetown at Kensington Oval. This is a proud moment for Barbados as we welcome the opportunity to host one of the most celebrated events in regional cricket.”
Since the CPL’s inception in 2013, Trinidad has been the most frequent host of the finals, staging it six times—twice at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain (2013 and 2015) and four times at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba (2017-2020). Saint Kitts and Nevis also hosted the CPL final on three occasions at Warner Park in Basseterre (2014, 2016, and 2021), while Guyana has emerged as a leading host for the finals in recent years.
As Kensington Oval prepares to welcome its first CPL final, excitement is building in Barbados, with the historic venue set to add another memorable chapter to the rich history of Caribbean cricket.
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