The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be held from February 7 to March 8, 2026. India and Sri Lanka will host the event together, bringing the World Cup back to South Asia for a month-long run.
The matches will be played across eight venues in both countries, with the 20 teams taking part in the 2026 edition.
Let us have a look at the complete schedule, teams, format details, and other key updates.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 starts on February 6, with India facing the USA in the opening match.
Here is the complete schedule of the 2026 T20 World Cup:
| Date | Teams | Time (Local / GMT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Feb 7 2026 | Pakistan vs Netherlands | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| Sat, Feb 7 2026 | West Indies vs Scotland | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Sat, Feb 7 2026 | India vs USA | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Sun, Feb 8 2026 | New Zealand vs Afghanistan | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Sun, Feb 8 2026 | England vs Nepal | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Sun, Feb 8 2026 | Sri Lanka vs Ireland | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Mon, Feb 9 2026 | Scotland vs Italy | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Mon, Feb 9 2026 | Zimbabwe vs Oman | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| Mon, Feb 9 2026 | South Africa vs Canada | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Tue, Feb 10 2026 | Netherlands vs Namibia | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Tue, Feb 10 2026 | New Zealand vs UAE | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Tue, Feb 10 2026 | Pakistan vs USA | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| Wed, Feb 11 2026 | South Africa vs Afghanistan | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Wed, Feb 11 2026 | Australia vs Ireland | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Wed, Feb 11 2026 | England vs West Indies | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Thu, Feb 12 2026 | Sri Lanka vs Oman | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | Pallekele Stadium |
| Thu, Feb 12 2026 | Nepal vs Italy | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Thu, Feb 12 2026 | India vs Namibia | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Fri, Feb 13 2026 | Australia vs Zimbabwe | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Fri, Feb 13 2026 | Canada vs UAE | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Fri, Feb 13 2026 | USA vs Netherlands | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Sat, Feb 14 2026 | Ireland vs Oman | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| Sat, Feb 14 2026 | England vs Scotland | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Sat, Feb 14 2026 | New Zealand vs South Africa | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Sun, Feb 15 2026 | West Indies vs Nepal | 11:00 AM / 5:30 AM GMT | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Sun, Feb 15 2026 | USA vs Namibia | 3:00 PM / 9:30 AM GMT | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Sun, Feb 15 2026 | India vs Pakistan | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Wed, Mar 4 2026 | 1st Semi-Final | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | TBC |
| Thu, Mar 5 2026 | 2nd Semi-Final | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Sun, Mar 8 2026 | Final | 7:00 PM / 1:30 PM GMT | TBC |
Teams in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
20 teams will compete in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Here is the list of teams and their qualification criteria:
| No | Team Name | Qualification Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | Host nation |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | Host nation |
| 3 | Afghanistan | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 4 | Australia | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 5 | Scotland | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 6 | England | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 7 | South Africa | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 8 | United States | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 9 | West Indies | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 10 | Pakistan | ICC T20I ranking |
| 11 | New Zealand | ICC T20I ranking |
| 12 | Ireland | ICC T20I ranking |
| 13 | Canada | Americas Regional Qualifier |
| 14 | Netherlands | Europe Qualifier |
| 15 | Italy | Europe Qualifier (first-ever qualification) |
| 16 | Namibia | Africa Regional Qualifier |
| 17 | Zimbabwe | Africa Regional Qualifier |
| 18 | Nepal | Asia–EAP Qualifier |
| 19 | Oman | Asia–EAP Qualifier |
| 20 | United Arab Emirates | Asia–EAP Qualifier |
Group Format in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026:
For the 2026 T20 World Cup, twenty teams are divided into four groups: A, B, C, and D; the top two advance to the Super 8.
Here is the group distribution of all the teams:
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan |
| B | Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman |
| C | England, West Indies, Scotland, Italy, Nepal |
| D | South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE |
In the Super 8, the eight teams are split into two groups of four. Each team plays all three opponents in its group, and the top two from each group move to the semi-finals.
Host Nations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
India and Sri Lanka will co-host the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, with India hosting for the first time since 2016 and Sri Lanka hosting for the first time since 2012.
India will host matches across five cities, and Sri Lanka will host games in three cities.
This distribution spreads the workload and brings the tournament back to South Asia, where cricket is one of the most popular sports.
Venues For The ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Here’s how the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches are planned across venues in India and Sri Lanka
| Country | City | Stadium Name |
|---|---|---|
| India | Ahmedabad | Narendra Modi Stadium |
| India | Chennai | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
| India | New Delhi | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| India | Mumbai | Wankhede Stadium |
| India | Kolkata | Eden Gardens |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo | R. Premadasa Stadium |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo | Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground |
| Sri Lanka | Kandy | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium |
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the final of the T20 World Cup 2026, thanks to its large seating capacity. The Stadium is one of the biggest cricket stadiums in India.
Other Indian venues, such as the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, also offer high-quality pitches and facilities, making them ideal for important cricket games.
Kolkata and Mumbai will host the semifinals, while Colombo serves as an alternative venue for the final and one semifinal.
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Conclusion: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Will Take Place Between February 7 And March 8
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be held in India and Sri Lanka, with 20 teams playing in eight big stadiums across the two countries.
The tournament will follow the same format as 2024, with group matches, Super 8, semi-finals, and the final.
It will be interesting to see how defending champions India start their campaign against the USA. So, get ready for a historic 2026 T20 World Cup!
FAQs
The ICC has announced the final schedule of the T20 World Cup 2026. Matches will begin on February 6, 2026.
Ticket bookings are now open for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. You will get all details directly from the official ICC website.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be streamed live on Jio Hotstar and Star Sports Network in India.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 schedule includes day–night matches, with most games starting at 3:00 PM or 7:00 PM local time.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 schedule includes reserve days for knockout matches, ensuring semifinals and the final can be completed if delayed.
