Staffordshire’s fixtures for the 2026 NCCA season have been confirmed.
The National Counties Cricket Association programme will, once again, start with the Knockout Trophy format, before the Twenty20 Cup takes centre stage.
The three-day Championship matches will bring an end to the campaign.
Staffs commence their commitments with a home date in Group Two of the 50-over competition as they entertain Norfolk on Sunday, April 26.
Their next assignment is a trip to Bedfordshire on Bank Holiday Monday (May 4), before visiting Northumberland on May 10.
The group concludes with a home clash against Lincolnshire on May 17.
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Staffordshire will be targeting an upturn in fortunes in this particular white-ball format after failing to qualify from their group for the past three seasons.
The T20 Cup then kicks into gear, with Staffordshire facing the same opponents as last season.
The double headers start at home against Northumberland on Sunday, May 24.
That is followed by games at Shropshire on May 31 before Cheshire hop across the border on June 14.
Staffordshire then head to Cumbria on July 5 to wrap up matters.
Staffs have enjoyed success in the T20 competition recently, having won the competition in 2023 and reaching finals day in 2024.
They progressed to the Super 12s stage in 2025, but defeats by Norfolk and Herefordshire prevented them from a third straight appearance at finals day.
‘Championship line-up’
Attention then turns to the red-ball competition with Division One East matches.
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Staffordshire finished in third place in the division last time out, although came close to winning the section after just missing out on victories over Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire.
The 2026 games commence with a visit to Bucks, starting on July 12. Buckinghamshire won the division in 2025 and went on to beat Devon in the Championship final.
Staffordshire’s first home three-dayer sees them welcome Cambs on July 26.
Staffs then sit out the next round of games before heading to newly-promoted Northumberland on Sunday, August 16.
Northumberland won Division Two East in the summer and replaced relegated Lincolnshire in the top flight.
Staffordshire’s final three-day encounter sees them host Suffolk on August 23.
The venues for the matches have yet to be confirmed and will be announced in due course.
‘Dates for the diary’
NCCA TROPHY GROUP TWO
April 26: Northumberland v Bedfordshire; Staffordshire v Norfolk
May 3: Bedfordshire v Lincolnshire; Norfolk v Northumberland
May 4: Bedfordshire v Staffordshire; Lincolnshire v Northumberland
May 10: Lincolnshire v Norfolk; Northumberland v Staffordshire
May 17: Norfolk v Bedfordshire; Staffordshire v Lincolnshire
Quarter-finals: June 7
Semi-finals: June 28
Final: July 19
TWENTY20 CUP GROUP ONE
May 24: Cheshire v Shropshire; Staffordshire v Northumberland
May 31: Northumberland v Cumbria; Shropshire v Staffordshire
June 14: Cumbria v Shropshire; Staffordshire v Cheshire
June 21: Cheshire v Cumbria; Shropshire v Northumberland
July 5: Cumbria v Staffordshire; Northumberland v Cheshire
Super 12s: August 9
Finals day: August 30
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE EAST
July 12 to 14: Bucks v Staffordshire; Suffolk v Northumberland
July 26 to 28: Northumberland v Bucks; Staffordshire v Cambs
August 2 to 4: Buckinghamshire v Suffolk; Cambridgeshire v Northumberland
August 16 to 18: Northumberland v Staffordshire; Suffolk v Cambridgeshire
August 23 to 25: Cambridgeshire v Buckinghamshire; Staffordshire v Suffolk
Champ final: September 6 to 9
Main image: Staffordshire’s fixtures for the 2026 NCCA season have been announced. Picture: David Peters