Ireland Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Trophy 2026/27

The Ireland Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Trophy, known officially as the Inter-Provincial Trophy, stands as the premier domestic Twenty20 competition in Ireland. Founded in 2013 by Cricket Ireland, the tournament operates at the top tier of the country's domestic pyramid, running parallel to the 50-over Inter-Provincial Cup. The event features professional franchises representing Ireland's provincial unions, distinguishing it from the All-Ireland Club Competitions which focus on local talent development. In contrast to those club events, the Inter-Provincial Trophy permits the inclusion of up to two overseas players in the starting eleven.

For the 2026 season, the field has narrowed to three competing franchises: Leinster Lightning, Northern Knights, and North West Warriors. This reduction follows the removal of the Munster Reds from the senior series, leaving a compact group of teams. The format for recent editions has shifted towards a quadruple round-robin league structure. Under this system, each team plays every other side four times, with the winner determined by the points table without a knockout stage. Previous iterations included semi-finals and a final, but the current approach emphasises consistency over a single elimination match.

Leinster Lightning holds the record for success in the tournament, having won 10 titles as of the 2026 season. This tally includes victories in the most recent editions, specifically 2025 and 2026. North West Warriors and Northern Knights have each secured two titles. Matches are typically staged in double-headers at various venues across the island, including Dublin, Belfast, and Cork. Because the teams are fixed franchises managed directly by Cricket Ireland, there is no promotion or relegation system within this structure.