Overview
- The season begins on Friday, 3 April, with Glamorgan hosting Yorkshire in their first top-flight match in 21 years.
- Reigning champions Nottinghamshire open their title defence away to Somerset at Taunton.
- The Kookaburra mid-summer trial has been scrapped, with the Dukes ball set for use throughout the red-ball season.
- The calendar blocks six Championship rounds for April–May, two in June, and a final stretch from 20 August to 28 September, with no first-class fixtures in July.
- One-Day Cup dates are confirmed: the women's competition starts on 11 April and holders Worcestershire begin the men's defence at home to Derbyshire on 24 July.