how many tests in the ashes

There are 5 Test matches in a standard Ashes series between England and Australia, including the current 2025–26 series.

Quick answer

• A modern Ashes series is a five-Test series.

• The ongoing 2025–26 Ashes in Australia is also scheduled as five Tests, played from 21 November 2025 to 8 January 2026.

Ashes format in general

Since the late 1990s, every Ashes contest has been played over five Test matches between England and Australia.

Earlier in history the number sometimes varied (from one up to seven), but the five-Test format is now the established standard.

2025–26 Ashes specifics

For the current 2025–26 series in Australia, the official schedules list:

• 1st Test – Perth Stadium, Perth
• 2nd Test – The Gabba, Brisbane (day–night)
• 3rd Test – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
• 4th Test – MCG, Melbourne (Boxing Day Test)
• 5th Test – SCG, Sydney (New Year’s Test)

All five matches form part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle and are being played between late November 2025 and early January 2026.

TL;DR: If you’re asking “how many Tests in the Ashes?” the answer, both traditionally now and for the latest series, is five.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.