The 2025-26 KFC Big Bash League season will see Brisbane strive to bring the heat in more ways than one across five home matches at the Gabba this summer.
Buoyed by the signing of number one International Draft Pick and fast bowling tyro Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Heat will host the Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars, Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers at the Gabba.
It will be the first time since Brisbane’s championship season in BBL|13 in 2023-24 that the Scorchers will have played in Brisbane, with Perth arriving for the Heat’s Opening Night game on Friday 19 December.
Included in the Heat’s five home matches highlighted in today’s release of the BBL|15 draw is a rare day game, hosting the Sydney Thunder on Saturday 10 January in a 3pm match as part of a bumper BBL double-header that day.
The Heat will host the last game of the regular season, a potential blockbuster against the Sydney Sixers at the Gabba on Sunday 18 January which could feature Pakistan superstars Afridi and Sydney’s Babar Azam as well as Australian Test players being available.
Heat CEO Terry Svenson said the fixtures presented an almost perfect summer draw for Brisbane fans and members.
“We’ve got all games in the school holidays, two Friday night games, two Saturday matches including a family friendly afternoon slot, and a Sunday night blockbuster to wrap up the regular season,’’ he said.
“The matches are ideally spaced, with a pre-Christmas clash with the Scorchers, the Festive Bash game on 27 December against the Strikers that is right in the sweet spot for families on holidays, a Friday night match just after New Year and then two more games a week apart in January.”
“This summer promises to be one of the biggest ever on record for cricket, and if our membership renewal interest is any guide, we’re thrilled at the prospect of attracting loads of fans to the Gabba which in turn should inspire the team to be at their most exciting,” Svenson said.
Brisbane Heat Memberships went on sale yesterday, with the club producing its highest ever first day of sales in 14 years.
The record sales return came on the same day that the Heat announced Royal Caribbean as its official Membership and Holiday Partner, with a family holiday for four to be given away ahead of the season.
Heat tickets will be on sale from next month through Ticketek.
Brisbane will open its season away with a return to Geelong where it will take on the Melbourne Renegades on 15 December.
The Heat has played the Renegades three times at GHMBA Stadium in Geelong, winning their inaugural clash at the venue before losing the next two.
This included the infamous COVID match in January 2022 where Brisbane was forced to field an entirely new side after the main playing group was quarantined on the Gold Coast following an outbreak of illness in the squad.
The Heat will also play the Sixers at Coffs Harbour International Stadium, the third year in a row it has visited the NSW coastal city for a BBL game, as well as make a return to Canberra to take on the Thunder at Manuka Oval.
The 40 regular season matches will run uninterrupted from December 14 to January 18, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The BBL|15 Finals series will feature four matches from Tuesday, January 20, culminating in the Final on Sunday, January 25.
Every BBL|15 match will once again be aired on FOX SPORTS and available on Kayo Sports, including ten matches exclusive to FOX CRICKET.
The summer schedule features 30 regular season BBL matches and every final that will be shown live and free on Seven and 7plus.
The WBBL Heat fixtures will be announced next week.