CMC – CRICKET fans across the island have reason to celebrate, as the Jamaican government is finalising a deal to bring a new Caribbean Premier League franchise back to Sabina Park for the 2026 season.

In a major push to cement Jamaica’s status as a regional sports hub, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport are leading a public-private partnership to secure the island’s return to the world’s biggest party in sport.
This move is a central part of a broader strategy to leverage sports tourism, transforming Kingston into a premier destination for major events and creating unforgettable experiences for visitors that blend cricket with the island’s rich culture, food, and entertainment.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and Sports Minister Olivia Grange are spearheading the negotiations, expressing strong confidence that a deal will be concluded.
“Sports tourism is a critical component for destination Jamaica,” stated Minister Bartlett. “Minister Grange and I have been collaborating closely with CPL officials and local stakeholders to ensure we advance quality cricket offerings here. We are committed to making this a success and building sports tourism into a major driver for visitor arrivals and revenue.”
Echoing his optimism, Minister Grange confirmed the positive progress. “The discussions have been ongoing and are going very well. We have resolved many of the challenges, and I’m very confident that we will welcome a new CPL franchise to Jamaica in the new season.”

The excitement is shared by the CPL itself. Chief Executive Officer Peter Russell welcomed the prospect of a return to one of the Caribbean’s most iconic cricketing grounds.
“The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League is very excited at the prospect of a return to Jamaica,” Russell said. “We have had fruitful discussions with the government about securing a seventh CPL team based in Jamaica for 2026. We have seen the impact CPL has made on promoting host nations as premier tourism destinations and look forward to working with our partners to achieve similar success here.”