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The Boxing Day Test returns to the MCG from Saturday 26 to Wednesday 30 December 2026, with Australia taking on New Zealand in the third Test of the summer series.
If you’re travelling to Melbourne for the cricket, this is the week to plan properly. The Test lands right between Christmas and New Year, bringing match days, Boxing Day sales, summer nights and New Year’s Eve into one very busy stretch.
Here’s how to get to the MCG, what to know before match day and why Brunswick is worth considering when you’re looking for accommodation near the MCG with an easy train connection to the ground.
Quick answer
- Match: Australia v New Zealand at the MCG, 26–30 December 2026
- First ball: 10.30am AEDT each day, subject to play
- Getting there: Take the Upfield line from Anstey Station and connect for Jolimont, or continue to Flinders Street and walk
- Where to stay: If you’re looking for accommodation near the MCG with more room for a longer stay, Rambla @ Solarino House in Brunswick is a train trip from the ground, with one and two-bedroom apartments, full kitchens and laundry.
- Book ahead: Rambla’s Summer Sale covers the Boxing Day period, with bigger savings for longer stays
Boxing Day Test 2026: Australia v New Zealand, 26 to 30 December
The 2026 Boxing Day Test sees Australia host New Zealand at the MCG from 26 to 30 December, with play scheduled to begin at 10.30am AEDT each day.
It’s the third match of a four-Test series, starting in Perth before moving through Adelaide and Melbourne, then finishing at the SCG in January.
| Test | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| First Test | 9–13 December 2026 | Perth Stadium |
| Second Test | 17–21 December 2026 | Adelaide Oval |
| Third Test – Boxing Day Test | 26–30 December 2026 | MCG |
| Fourth Test | 4–8 January 2027 | SCG |
General public tickets went on sale in June. Check the official MCG Boxing Day Test page for current tickets and match-day updates.
And remember: a Test is scheduled for five days but five days of play aren’t guaranteed. Plan your Melbourne trip around the whole Christmas-to-New-Year stretch rather than assuming you’ll be in your seat until day five.
Why Boxing Day is the anchor of the MCG cricket summer
The Boxing Day Test is the centrepiece of the MCG’s 2026/27 cricket calendar, bringing international cricket to Melbourne across one of the busiest weeks of summer.
There’s more cricket on either side. The MCG hosts Australia v England in a men’s T20I on 21 November, followed in early 2027 by women’s internationals against New Zealand and the 150th Anniversary Test between Australia and England from 11 to 15 March.
The Boxing Day Test is the perfect anchor for a longer Melbourne stay. Interstate families and groups can build several days around the cricket, with Boxing Day shopping, summer nights and New Year’s Eve all falling within the same window.
Following the cricket north too? Brisbane doesn’t host a men’s Test this summer but Australia takes on England in a T20I at the Gabba on 27 November. See Rambla’s Gabba 2026 events guide for more.
Getting to the MCG from Brunswick on match day
Brunswick is well connected to the MCG by public transport, with train and tram options making it straightforward to get to the ground on match day. The MCG is around 20 to 30 minutes from Rambla @ Solarino House by car, depending on traffic.
Train to the MCG
The easiest route from Rambla @ Solarino House is by train, with Anstey Station around 40 metres from the property.
Allow 45 minutes to an hour door to door. The ride itself takes around 40 minutes, and the rest covers waiting for your train. Take the Upfield line to Flinders Street Station, then change there for a Hurstbridge or Mernda line service to Jolimont Station. From Jolimont, it’s around 350 metres or a five-minute walk through Yarra Park to Gate 2.
Tram to the MCG
You can also take Route 19 down Sydney Road towards the city, then connect with trams running towards the MCG.
Routes 48 and 75 stop at Jolimont Station/MCG, Stop 11, around 300 metres from Gate 2. Route 70 also services the MCG precinct via stops 7B and 7C.
What time should you leave Brunswick on Boxing Day?
The MCG recommends arriving early. For day one, aim to leave Solarino House at around 8.15–8.30am. Public gates 1 and 3–7 open at 9am and first ball is scheduled for 10.30am, giving you time for the trip, security and finding your seat without starting the Test in a sprint.
Boxing Day runs on a public holiday timetable, so check PTV for holiday timetables and planned works before setting off.
Match day at the MCG: gate times, bags and a cashless ground
Day one public gates open at 9am, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am, so give yourself plenty of time for entry and bag checks.
A few practical things to know before you leave Brunswick:
- Backpacks are allowed but your bag needs to fit comfortably under your seat.
- Larger duffle bags, sports bags and suitcases must be left at the cloaking facilities at Gate 3. This is particularly important if you’re heading straight to the airport or station after your final day at the cricket.
- Bags may be inspected on entry.
- Cans, glass and opened plastic soft-drink containers aren’t permitted.
- Umbrellas can come with you but can’t be raised in the seating areas while play is underway.
- The MCG is cashless, so bring a debit or credit card.
- The ground is smoke and vape free.
Why Brunswick works for a Christmas cricket stay
Brunswick gives you an easy public-transport route to the MCG while giving you more room to settle in across the wider Christmas and New Year break.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day can mean reduced trading hours around Melbourne, so having your own full kitchen gives you more control over breakfast, snacks and dinner rather than relying on whatever happens to be open.
Sydney Road and the surrounding Brunswick neighbourhood give you plenty to return to once play finishes, from casual dining and bars to independent shops and live music. Holiday opening hours can change, so check individual venues before heading out.
For more on the area, see Rambla’s guide to things to do in Brunswick, or explore the Spring Racing Carnival guide for another look at using Brunswick as a base during one of Melbourne’s major event weeks.
What else is on between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve?
The Boxing Day Test sits inside one of Melbourne’s best weeks for making a proper trip of it, with shopping, summer nights and New Year’s Eve all following Christmas.
Hit the Boxing Day sales
If you’re not heading straight to the MCG on the 26th – or the cricket wraps early – central Melbourne’s Boxing Day sales are an easy addition to the trip.
Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central and Emporium put plenty of the major retailers in one compact part of the CBD.
Spend some time in Brunswick
You don’t need every non-cricket hour scheduled.
Come back to Brunswick for dinner, wander Sydney Road, find a bar or live music, or make use of Solarino House’s rooftop garden, BBQ and dining areas. Having a genuine neighbourhood around you is particularly handy on a five or seven-night stay.
Stay through New Year's Eve
If you stay after the scheduled final day of the Test, New Year’s Eve is the very next night.
Melbourne usually marks 31 December with city celebrations and fireworks, making it an easy extension for interstate visitors already in town. Check out Rambla’s Melbourne Christmas and New Year’s Eve guide for a full breakdown of the festive program.
Take a day trip
If you’re stretching the Melbourne stay beyond the Test, there’s a natural break before the Sydney Test begins on 4 January. Use one of those days to get out of the city.
Head to the Yarra Valley for cellar doors, long lunches and vineyard views, or spend the day on the Mornington Peninsula with beaches, coastal towns and hot springs in the mix. If you’re happy with an early start and a bigger day on the road, the Great Ocean Road is the classic option for dramatic coastline, seaside stops and the Twelve Apostles.
Who this trip suits: cricket families, groups and longer Melbourne stays
The Boxing Day Test works particularly well as a longer stay for interstate families, groups travelling together and anyone combining the cricket with New Year in Melbourne.
At Rambla @ Solarino House, you can choose from:
- One Bedroom Apartments
- Two Bedroom Apartments
- Two Bedroom Two Bathroom Executive Apartments
Every apartment has a full kitchen and in-apartment laundry, which starts to make a lot of sense after several days of sunscreen, stadium snacks and summer clothes.
Groups can share a two-bedroom serviced apartment rather than scattering across separate rooms. Families have space for breakfast before an early match-day departure and somewhere to settle in when everyone gets back.
There’s also secure parking, bike racks, Walk Right In check-in with 24-hour guest support and a co-working space if you need to clear an email or two between innings.
Upstairs, the rooftop garden has BBQ and dining areas for the summer evenings outdoors.
Accommodation near the MCG: when to book Rambla @ Solarino House
If you’re comparing Boxing Day Test accommodation, it’s worth booking as soon as your cricket plans are locked in. Rambla @ Solarino House gives you an option for accommodation near the MCG with a straightforward train trip from Brunswick.
Rambla’s School Holiday Summer Sale applies to Solarino House stays from 19 December 2026 to 31 January 2027, with bigger savings the longer you stay:
- 10% off stays of 2+ nights
- 20% off stays of 7+ nights
- 25% off stays of 14+ nights
- Late check-out
- One complimentary car park
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival
This deal is perfect for Boxing Day Test travellers. A five-night stay covering the scheduled Test qualifies for 10% off, while staying seven nights and carrying the trip through New Year lifts the saving to 20%.
At Rambla @ Solarino House, Anstey Station is around 40 metres away for the trip into the city, while one and two-bedroom apartments, full kitchens and in-apartment laundry make a longer stay much easier.
So you can settle into Brunswick, take in the Test, stay for New Year and make a proper Melbourne summer break of it.
For more of the big dates around your stay, see the Melbourne Events Calendar 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Boxing Day Test
Where should I stay when going to the MCG?
If you’re comparing accommodation near the MCG, look for easy public transport as well as distance from the ground. Rambla @ Solarino House in Brunswick is close to Anstey Station, with train connections to Jolimont and apartment-style facilities suited to a longer Christmas-to-New-Year stay.
Who is playing in the 2026 Boxing Day Test?
Australia plays New Zealand in the 2026 Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The match is scheduled from Saturday 26 to Wednesday 30 December and is the third Test of the four-match series.
What time does the Boxing Day Test start?
First ball is scheduled for 10.30am AEDT. On day one, public gates 1 and 3–7 open at 9am and the MCG recommends arriving early for entry and security checks.
How long does it take to walk from Flinders Street Station to the MCG?
The MCG is around 1.6km from Flinders Street Station, or approximately a 20-minute walk. Jolimont Station is closer, at around 350 metres from the ground.
Can you bring backpacks to the MCG?
Yes. Backpacks and bags are allowed if they fit comfortably under your seat and may be inspected on entry. Larger bags, including duffle bags and suitcases, need to be left at the cloaking facilities at Gate 3.
Has the Boxing Day Test sold out?
Ticket availability changes, so check the official MCG Boxing Day Test page, which links through to Ticketek for current availability rather than relying on older ticket information.
