When is the Next Lions Tour? Full Schedule and Future Host Countries
The next British & Irish Lions tour is the 2027 Women’s Lions tour to New Zealand — the first of its kind — followed by the 2029 Men’s Lions tour, also to New Zealand. Since the 2025 men’s series in Australia, the Lions have moved to a tighter cycle: a tour every two years, alternating between the women’s and men’s teams.
🦁 Next Lions tours at a glance
| Next tour | 2027 Women’s Lions · New Zealand · v Black Ferns |
| Following tour | 2029 Men’s Lions · New Zealand · v All Blacks |
| Typical tour window | June – August, matching every recent tour. Exact 2029 fixture dates have not been confirmed. |
| Last men’s tour | 2025 · Australia |
Why the cycle changed
For decades a Lions tour meant one thing: a men’s squad touring Australia, New Zealand or South Africa once every four years, on a strict rotation. The women’s game changes that shape without breaking the four-year men’s cycle — the inaugural Women’s Lions tour sits in the gap between the 2025 and 2029 men’s series, so instead of a four-year wait between Lions rugby of any kind, there is now a genuine Lions tour on average every two years.
2027: the first Women’s Lions tour
New Zealand hosts the first Women’s Lions tour in the competition’s history in 2027, with the Black Ferns as opposition — the reigning world champions, and as tough a start as the concept could have. There is no precedent to compare it to, which is exactly why it matters: whatever happens becomes the template every Women’s Lions tour after it is judged against.
2029: the men return to New Zealand
The men’s Lions head to New Zealand in 2029, their first men’s series there since the drawn 2017 tour — one of the most fondly remembered in the jersey’s modern history. Coming off Australia in 2025, this is the tour most fans have circled since the current cycle was confirmed. Expect a squad built around whoever the 2027 Women’s Lions establishes as the template for how well the concept travels, and a men’s series that the All Blacks will treat as a genuine home Test series rather than a novelty.
Already on our list for it? Our Lions Tour 2029 tickets and alerts page is where we’ll post pricing and on-sale dates the moment World Rugby confirms them — we are not a ticket seller and never will be.
How the touring rotation has worked
| Year | Tour | Host |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Men’s | New Zealand |
| 2021 | Men’s | South Africa |
| 2025 | Men’s | Australia |
| 2027 | Women’s (inaugural) | New Zealand |
| 2029 | Men’s | New Zealand |
The traditional men’s rotation moves between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Nothing about the women’s tour changes that rotation — it runs alongside it, in the years the men aren’t touring.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Lions tour?
The 2027 Women’s Lions tour to New Zealand — the first ever — followed by the 2029 Men’s Lions tour, also to New Zealand.
Where do the Lions tour in 2029?
New Zealand, against the All Blacks. It will be the men’s first Lions series there since 2017.
How often do the Lions tour now?
Roughly every two years, alternating men’s and women’s series, rather than strictly every four years as in the men’s-only era.
Has World Rugby confirmed exact match dates for 2029?
Not yet. This page will update the moment fixture dates are announced rather than estimate them.
More on the Lions calendar: our 2027 Women’s Lions Tour guide covers the New Zealand series in full, and our tickets and alerts page covers both.
