The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is set to return to Barbados in grand style, with the iconic Kensington Oval confirmed as the venue for the 2026 CPL final and all playoff matches. This will mark the first time Barbados hosts the tournament’s finale, adding historic significance to the 14th edition of the region’s premier T20 competition.
The announcement follows four consecutive years of playoff action in Guyana, beginning in 2022. Hosting the CPL proved to be a financial success for the South American nation, generating US$84 million in 2022 and a record-breaking US$101.6 million in 2023. Although official figures for the 2025 season have not yet been released, its record-setting performances suggest similarly strong results.
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Barbados is expected to enjoy comparable benefits. CPL Chief Executive Officer Pete Russell confirmed that “more tickets than ever” were sold for this year’s tournament and expressed confidence that Barbados will deliver an equally successful event in 2026. He also highlighted the potential for a strong bounceback season for the Barbados Royals as they play in front of home supporters.
“I think the Barbados team, and I’m sure the management of the Barbados team, will look at it very closely because you want the home team, the hosting team of the finals, to do well,” Russell said.
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He added that fan support will be strong regardless of which teams make the final: “Barbados fans love cricket, so I’m sure they’ll come and watch whoever’s in the final. That franchise will get its act together and be very competitive next year. With all players going back into the draft at the end of this tournament, teams will look very different, which is exciting as well.”
The 2026 CPL final at Kensington Oval promises to be a landmark moment, uniting cricket fans across the island and the wider Caribbean for one of the sport’s biggest regional spectacles.
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