The Festival of Cricket 2026, celebrating its 36th Anniversary, once again brought together thousands of Sri Lankans from across the United Kingdom for a spectacular day of cricket, music, food, trade, and community spirit at Hainault Recreation Ground on 12th July 2026.
Recognised as one of the largest annual gatherings of the Sri Lankan community in the UK, this year's festival featured participation from numerous Sri Lankan schools, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with friendly rivalry, sportsmanship, and cultural pride. The event truly lived up to its long-standing values of Unity, Harmony, and Togetherness.
Isipathana College Crowned Festival of Cricket 2026 Champions
After a dominant campaign throughout the tournament, Isipathana College emerged as the Festival of Cricket 2026 Cup Champions, delivering an outstanding performance in the final against Zahira College.
Cup Final
| Team |
Score |
| Isipathana College |
87/1 |
| Zahira College |
60/2 |
π Festival of Cricket 2026 Champions: Isipathana College
π₯ Runners-up: Zahira College
Royal College Wins the Plate Championship
The Plate Final produced another exciting contest, with Royal College successfully chasing down Joseph Vaz College's total to secure the title.
Plate Final
| Team |
Score |
| Joseph Vaz College |
39/1 |
| Royal College |
43/4 |
π Festival of Cricket 2026 Plate Champions: Royal College
Women's Tournament Ends with Joint Champions
The Women's Tournament concluded in fitting fashion, with two outstanding teams sharing the honours after an excellent display of skill and determination throughout the competition.
- Visakha Vidyalaya
- Anural Vidyalaya
Chief Guest
The festival was honoured by the presence of Mr. Nimal Senadheera from the High Commission of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom, who attended the event as the Chief Guest. His presence added further prestige to the occasion and reflected the continued support of the Sri Lankan High Commission for community initiatives that bring Sri Lankans together through sport and culture.
More Than Just Cricket
Beyond the action on the field, Festival of Cricket 2026 delivered a complete family experience. Visitors enjoyed a lively trade fair, a wide variety of authentic Sri Lankan food stalls, community exhibitions, children's entertainment, and an unforgettable live musical performance by Sarith & Surith. Thousands of spectators enjoyed a festival atmosphere that celebrated not only cricket but also Sri Lankan culture, friendship, and togetherness.
The festival once again demonstrated that it is far more than a cricket tournamentβit is a celebration of heritage, community spirit, and the enduring bonds shared by Sri Lankans living in the United Kingdom.
Congratulations to the Organising Committee
A special congratulations goes to President Krishan Bulathsinhala and the entire Festival of Cricket Committee for successfully organising another exceptional Festival of Cricket. Their dedication, leadership, and countless hours of hard work ensured a memorable event that brought together schools, families, sponsors, volunteers, officials, entertainers, and supporters from across the country.
The success of Festival of Cricket 2026 is a testament to the commitment of everyone involved in preserving one of the UK's longest-running Sri Lankan community traditions.
Tournament Honours
- π Cup Champions: Isipathana College
- π₯ Cup Runners-up: Zahira College
- π Plate Champions: Royal College
- π Women's Joint Champions: Visakha Vidyalaya & Anural Vidyalaya
As the curtain falls on another successful edition of the Festival of Cricket, the Sri Lankan community in the UK can proudly celebrate a day that perfectly combined sport, culture, music, and unity. Congratulations to all participating schools, players, volunteers, sponsors, officials, and supporters who contributed to making Festival of Cricket 2026 another outstanding success. We look forward to an even bigger celebration in 2027.
