Foundation

'50 Days To Go' Schools Cricket Festival comes to Hove

19 Feb 2026

'50 Days To Go' Schools Cricket Festival comes to Hove

We are thrilled to announce a fantastic opportunity for primary schools across Sussex to play cricket on the hallowed outfield at The 1st Central County Ground in Hove.

On Thursday 23rd April, the Sussex Cricket Foundation will host its very own ‘50 Days To Go’ Schools Cricket Festival as part of the national Schools Cricket Day celebration, in the build-up to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 which is being hosted in England & Wales this summer.

The date and venue are fully confirmed, with finer details to follow. For now, the outline below gives an idea of how the day will run in order to help you decide whether to get involved by completing an application form.

Festival Details

Date: National Schools Cricket Day – Thursday 23rd April
Location: The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Arrival: 9:30am
Departure: 15:00pm
Year Groups: 5 & 6
Cost: Free to attend

Festival Format

The event is designed to be fun and participation-focused, featuring 6‑a‑side Countdown Cricket matches. Each school may bring up to eight children, with teams required to have a 50/50 split of boys and girls.

Schools interested in taking part can register their interest by completing the Festival application form.

Please note: submitting the form does not guarantee a place. All schools will be notified in due course as to whether they have secured a spot at the festival.

Celebrating the Women’s T20 World Cup

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is being hosted in England and Wales this June and July, and excitement for the tournament is already building. To mark the occasion and help raise the profile of women’s cricket, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is inviting schools nationwide to take part in a dedicated Schools Cricket Day on 23rd April.

Schools are encouraged to weave cricket into the curriculum - whether through classroom activities, cricket‑themed lessons, serving up a cricket tea or playing friendly games. A range of digital resources will be provided, and early registrants will receive exclusive materials and the chance to access money‑can’t‑buy experiences to make the day even more memorable.

Please note: this is a wider celebration which every school can take part in whether or not you're planning to attend the Schools Cricket Festival at Hove. We would love for every Primary, Secondary, SEND and ALN school in Sussex to get involved.

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