For the first time in over four decades, Australia's Ashes summer will kick off at a venue other than the iconic Gabba. Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday that Perth Stadium will host its maiden Ashes encounter when England visits for the first Test of the 2025-26 series. This marks a historic moment for the stadium and Australia’s cricket history, as the Ashes opener moves to Western Australia for the first time.

Perth Stadium will become only the eighth venue to host an Ashes Test in Australia, with the opening match set to begin on November 21, 2025. England has a challenging record in Perth, having won only one Ashes Test in the city.

Day-Night Test at the Gabba follows Perth opener

Following the Perth opener, the series will shift to Brisbane, where The Gabba will host the second Test—a day-night affair—starting on December 4. This will be the third time The Gabba hosts a day-night men's Test, with the previous encounters being against Pakistan in 2016 and Sri Lanka in 2019. The introduction of the day-night format adds an extra element of excitement to this iconic Ashes venue.

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Traditional venues follow for the remainder of the series

After Brisbane, the third Test will take place at the Adelaide Oval, maintaining its traditional spot in the schedule. Cricket fans can then look forward to the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), rounding out the highly anticipated five-match series.

This shift in the opening Ashes venue signals a new chapter in Australia’s rich cricketing history and adds to the anticipation surrounding the iconic Ashes rivalry.