Barbados Royals are set to restart under a new banner, with the franchise relaunching as the Barbados Tridents ahead of the 2026 season. The change follows the unveiling of the “One Barbados” partnership between the Government of Barbados and Royals Sports Group, the parent organisation behind the team.
Quick facts
- Barbados Royals will relaunch as the Barbados Tridents for the 2026 CPL season.
- The decision is linked to the “One Barbados” partnership between the Government of Barbados and Royals Sports Group.
- The Tridents were among the six founding CPL franchises in 2013.
- The team won CPL titles in 2014 and 2019.
- After Royals Sports Group took a majority stake ahead of the 2021 season, the franchise became Barbados Royals and has played under that name for five years, including three Women’s CPL seasons.
- The partnership is described as a three-year initiative aimed at a wider national programme, positioning the franchise as a “year-round national asset”.
- The Government of Barbados has agreed in principle to become a minority co-investor, with approvals still pending.
- The Tridents will use Barbados national colours: ultramarine, golden yellow and black, while keeping a commitment to pink through a “Pink Promise” charity match.
The Tridents originally formed part of the Caribbean Premier League’s launch cohort in 2013 and later delivered championship success twice, in 2014 and again in 2019. When Royals Sports Group acquired a majority shareholding in the Tridents ahead of the 2021 season, the franchise shifted to the name Barbados Royals and has operated under it ever since.
That five-year stretch also includes three seasons of the Women’s CPL, with the franchise competing under the Royals identity during that period. In the latest update, the Tridents said the three-year “One Barbados” partnership is designed to feed into a broader national movement, casting the franchise as a continuous, year-round asset for the island.
The announcement also points to a collaboration that brings public and private stakeholders together, with Barbados preparing to observe its 60th year of independence on November 30. The Government of Barbados and the franchise have additionally agreed, in principle, to the government taking on a minority co-investor role—though the necessary clearances are still awaiting completion.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley described the name change as a statement of national confidence and ambition, saying the relaunch tracks the country’s next 60 years and reinforces cricket’s place in Barbados identity and self-determination. She added that through the partnership, the team will be represented in Barbados’ national colours under a name that reflects who they are.
While Barbados Royals have worn pink in recent seasons, the Barbados Tridents will revert to the island’s national palette of ultramarine, golden yellow and black. Even with the colour shift, the franchise will keep a pink theme as well, including a dedicated “Pink Promise” charity match during the CPL campaign to support charitable causes.
