County Championship Division One (England) 2026/27

The County Championship is the top-tier domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales. Officially constituted on 16 December 1889, it is the world’s oldest domestic cricket tournament. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) organises the event today, following an initial agreement between county club secretaries and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

The tournament comprises 18 teams divided into two divisions. Division One features 10 sides, including Essex, Glamorgan, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Somerset. The format is a double round-robin league where teams play every opponent in their division twice. Each side contests 14 matches over the course of the season. There are no play-offs for the title; the champion is determined by the team with the highest points total at the end of the campaign.

Promotion and relegation operate on a strict two-up, two-down basis. The bottom two teams from Division One are relegated to Division Two, while the top two teams from Division Two move up. This structure ensures that every match carries significant weight for the teams involved.

The competition has evolved significantly since its inception. A major reform occurred in 2000 when the event moved from a single division to the current two-division system. Unlike shorter formats such as the T20 Blast or the One-Day Cup, the County Championship retains a four-day first-class format. This historical prestige and the presence of promotion and relegation distinguish it from other English domestic competitions.

Yorkshire remains the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the title 33 times. Other notable winners include Middlesex with 12 titles, Lancashire with nine, and Warwickshire with seven. The current champion is Surrey, who secured the 2024 title.