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England in South Africa 2026/27: the fan's guide

Three Tests, three ODIs, five grounds. Dates, where to stay, how to get around and what to know before you fly.

27 October 2026 · Gregg Abell, Field Trip Sports Travel, Johannesburg

The short answer

England tour South Africa from 17 December 2026 to 15 January 2027: three Tests (Wanderers, Centurion, Newlands) and three ODIs (Paarl and Bloemfontein). Hotels near the grounds start from about £70 per person, British passport holders don't need a visa for up to 90 days, and the Newlands Test and Paarl ODI are already sold out to the public, so plan those two first.

The fixtures

MatchDatesGround
1st Test17–21 Dec 2026Wanderers, Johannesburg
2nd Test26–30 Dec 2026 (Boxing Day)SuperSport Park, Centurion
3rd Test3–7 Jan 2027Newlands, Cape Town
1st ODISun 10 Jan 2027Boland Park, Paarl
2nd ODIWed 13 Jan 2027Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
3rd ODIFri 15 Jan 2027Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

Where to stay, match by match

MatchStayFrom, per person sharing
1st Test, Wanderers6 nights, 16–22 Dec. Protea Wanderers is a walk from the ground; Melrose Arch is 10 minutes away.R8210 (≈ £380)
2nd Test, Centurion6 nights, 25–31 Dec. Guesthouses in Centurion, or Menlyn in Pretoria.R2870 (≈ £135)
3rd Test, Newlands6 nights, 2–8 Jan. Newlands guesthouses are a short walk; the City Bowl is 15 minutes by car.R6190 (≈ £285)
1st ODI, Paarl2 nights, 9–11 Jan. Winelands guesthouses and wine estates.R1480 (≈ £70)
2nd and 3rd ODIs, Bloemfontein4 nights, 12–16 Jan. Guesthouses and lodges near the centre.R1710 (≈ £80)

Rand prices from our hotel packages; pounds approximate at £1 = R21.56 (23 September 2026). Full options: hotels for England fans.

Getting around

Visas, money and match days

See hotels for every matchPlan the whole tour

Field Trip is an independent South African travel company and not an official agent of Cricket South Africa or the ECB.

Questions we get asked

When is England's tour of South Africa?

From 17 December 2026 to 15 January 2027: three Tests (Johannesburg, Centurion, Cape Town) and three ODIs (Paarl and Bloemfontein).

Do British fans need a visa for South Africa?

No, not for a holiday of up to 90 days on a British passport. The passport needs two blank pages and at least 30 days' validity after you leave.

Where should I stay for the Newlands Test?

Newlands guesthouses are a short walk from the ground; the Cape Town City Bowl is about 15 minutes by car. Packages start from about R6190 per person sharing for 6 nights.

Is the Newlands Test sold out?

Yes, the Newlands Test and the Paarl ODI are sold out to the public. Match-day access is available on request.

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