South Africa vs England Test at Centurion on 26 December

SOUTH AFRICA · CRICKET

England play three Tests in South Africa from 17 December, and the Boxing Day Test at Centurion is the second. Day-one tickets start at R210 (about US$13), while general sales for the Cape Town Test sold out fast in May.

England play South Africa in the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion, Gauteng, starting Saturday, 26 December 2026. It is the second of three Tests, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) sells tickets on its official site.

Day-one tickets start at R210 (about US$13) for pensioners and children, and the official listing shows sales open. Play starts at 10:00 local time, which is 3:00 a.m. in New York.

What the Boxing Day Test Is

A Test is the longest form of international cricket, played over up to five days with two innings for each side. The match listing calls the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests “some of the most iconic fixtures on the cricket calendar.”

South Africa’s government lists 26 December as the Day of Goodwill, a public holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, so the first day of the Test lands on a weekend holiday.

Where the Boxing Day Test Fits in the Tour

England’s tour has three Tests and three one-day internationals (ODIs), announced in February 2026. The Tests run from 17 December to 7 January, and the ODIs follow from 10 to 15 January.

The first Test is at the Wanderers in Johannesburg from Thursday, 17 December, to Monday, 21 December. The Boxing Day Test follows at SuperSport Park from Saturday, 26 December, to Wednesday, 30 December.

The series ends at Newlands in Cape Town from Sunday, 3 January 2027, to Thursday, 7 January 2027. The ECB fixture list gives dates and venues but no start times, so check the CSA listing for each match.

The first ODI is at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday, 10 January 2027. The next two are at Manguang Oval in Bloemfontein on 13 and 15 January 2027.

A planned Twenty20 series was dropped from the schedule because of scheduling conflicts. The England and Wales Cricket Board says both boards are exploring options to reschedule it later.

Tickets and Prices for the Boxing Day Test

CSA sells tickets on tickets.cricket.co.za, which runs on the Ticketpro platform. The Day 1 listing shows the shop open, with sales that began on Monday, 18 May 2026.

Day 1 prices differ by area and by age, and each person needs a ticket. These are the listed prices for Saturday, 26 December 2026.

• Grandstand: adults R350 (about US$21); pensioners aged 60 and over and children under 17, R245 (about US$15).
• West and East Grass Embankments: adults R300 (about US$18); pensioners and children, R210 (about US$13).
• Castle Deck and Castle Corner: adults R550 (about US$33).

Day 2 on Sunday, 27 December 2026, lists from R210 (about US$13). Day 3 on Monday, 28 December 2026, lists from R155 (about US$9).

Each order on the Day 1 page is capped at 18 tickets. Hospitality suites also appear in the listing, but no suite prices are shown.

Conversions use open.er-api.com rates of Thursday, 15 October 2026, when US$1 bought ZAR 16.58. The listing does not say whether booking fees are added at checkout.

What the Cape Town Sell-Out Tells Buyers

The first four days of the Newlands Test sold out almost at once in May, EWN and the Express & Star reported. CSA said a limited number of general tickets were released and bought much faster than expected.

EWN quoted a sports business researcher who said large allocations went to overseas supporters and fan groups before the public sale. The Barmy Army, England’s travelling supporters, said its allocation is separate from the public sale.

EWN also said tickets reportedly appeared on resale sites for up to R4,000 (about US$241) each. Buyers should use only the official CSA listing.

The Boxing Day listing showed the shop open on Friday, 16 October 2026. No Centurion sell-out was found in the sources checked, and the listing does not show seats left in each area.

Getting to SuperSport Park

CSA’s schedule names the venue as SuperSport Park in Centurion, Gauteng province. The ticket listing gives the address as 283 West Avenue, Die Hoewes, Pretoria 0046.

The listing names three parking areas, Green Mushroom, Centurion Rugby Club and Centurion Gymnasium, for an extra fee. Parking tickets were not yet offered on the page on 16 October, so check again nearer the date.

Gautrain, Gauteng’s rapid rail service, runs in the province, the State Department notes. No match-day shuttle to the ground was found in the sources checked, so arrange a ride home before play ends.

The listing bans alcohol, cans, glass, hard cooler boxes, drones, air horns and professional cameras, and only phone cameras are allowed. Food and soft drinks are allowed in plastic containers, with food stalls at every entry gate.

Umbrellas and gazebos are allowed only on the East Embankment, and folding chairs only on the grass. Smoking is banned inside the stadium under a new law, the listing says.

A wheelchair-friendly platform sits on the West Embankment grass, reached through Gate 1. Carers need their own ticket, the listing says.

Entry Rules and Safety for US Visitors

US citizens do not need a visa for stays under 90 days, the State Department says. Passports must stay valid for 30 days after departure and carry two consecutive blank visa pages.

The State Department rates South Africa Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in an advisory dated Tuesday, 27 May 2025. It says violent crime is common, including smash-and-grab attacks on vehicles.

The department advises against driving at night and warns that traffic lights may stop working during scheduled blackouts. It lists large public events, including sports events, among places terrorists may target.

Traffic keeps to the left, and a valid US driver’s licence is accepted for stays under six months. Travellers arriving from a yellow fever risk country must show a vaccination certificate.

More Cricket at Centurion This Season

CSA lists a second Test against Bangladesh at SuperSport Park from Monday, 23 November, to Friday, 27 November 2026. A Bangladesh Twenty20 international follows there on Sunday, 13 December 2026.

Both fall before the England series, so a visitor arriving in late November could see Test cricket at the same ground. Ticket availability for those fixtures was not checked.

What It Means for You

Day 1 tickets cost between about US$13 and US$33, and the cheapest adult seat is R300 (about US$18). Buy only from the official CSA listing, because Newlands showed how fast general tickets can go.

Play starts at 3:00 a.m. US Eastern, so fans who want to follow live need an overnight plan. No US broadcaster has been confirmed, so check CSA’s channels nearer the date.

A visitor could pair the Wanderers Test in Johannesburg with the Boxing Day Test nine days later. Ticket availability for the Wanderers Test was not checked.

What Is Not Known

No US broadcaster or stream for the series had been confirmed as of Friday, 16 October 2026. Booking fees are not shown on the ticket listing, and official close-of-play times were not confirmed.

The listing does not show how many seats remain in each area, and parking tickets were not yet offered. No match-day shuttle to SuperSport Park was found in the sources checked.

CSA has not said whether more general tickets will be released for the Newlands Test. A new date for the dropped Twenty20 series has not been announced.

What Comes Next

The first Test begins at the Wanderers on Thursday, 17 December 2026, nine days before the Boxing Day Test. Prices and availability on the CSA ticket site can change before play, so check the listing before you pay.

Connected Coverage

The Rio Times Johannesburg city guide and What to Do in Johannesburg in October 2026 cover the first Test’s host city. The Cape Town city guide and What to Do in Cape Town in October 2026 cover the host of the third Test.

Earlier cricket this season is covered in South Africa vs Australia Cape Town Test 2026. The ODI series is covered in South Africa vs Australia ODI Series Opens at Kingsmead on 24 September 2026.

For the country, read South Africa Regions and Provinces Explained and Is South Africa Safe for Expats as Crime Drops. Both are in-depth guides to the host country.

For the political backdrop, read South Africa Explained: The Country, the Coalition Government and What to Watch. The longer story is in South Africa History Explained, From Origins to 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Boxing Day Test between South Africa and England?

It starts on Saturday, 26 December 2026, at SuperSport Park in Centurion and is scheduled for five days, to Wednesday, 30 December. Play is listed at 10:00 local time, which is 3:00 a.m. US Eastern.

Is the Boxing Day Test sold out, and how much are tickets?

The CSA listing showed sales open on Friday, 16 October 2026, with Day 1 from R210 (about US$13) to R550 (about US$33). The Cape Town Test sold out fast in May, so book early.

Do US citizens need a visa to attend the Boxing Day Test?

No, US citizens need no visa for stays under 90 days, the State Department says. Passports must be valid for 30 days after departure and have two consecutive blank visa pages.

Sources: Cricket South Africa, tickets, South Africa vs England Day 1; Cricket South Africa, tickets, Day 2; Cricket South Africa, tickets, Day 3; Cricket South Africa, 2026/27 Proteas men’s home season; Cricket South Africa, tickets on sale for the 2026/27 home season; England and Wales Cricket Board, fixtures for the 2026/27 tour of South Africa; EWN (19 May 2026); Express & Star, Press Association (19 May 2026); Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh tour of South Africa; South African government, public holidays; US State Department, South Africa country information; Gautrain; open.er-api.com, exchange rates (all accessed 16 October 2026).

Part of our ongoing coverage

Africa: The New Scramble — the great-power contest over the continent.

More from Southern Africa