T20 World Cup 2026 will be the 10th edition of the biggest tournament played at the highest level in the T20I format. India won the previous edition, beating South Africa in a nail-biting final, and will be defending their title in the next edition.
Just like the last edition, the upcoming tournament will be a 20-team tournament. The T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to begin on February 7, 2025, and the final is likely to be played on March 8. India and Sri Lanka are the co-hosts of the tournament.
A total of seven venues across these two countries are likely to host the matches in the T20 World Cup 2026. The last edition took place in USA and West Indies, and taking it to the subcontinent means it will be even bigger this time around.
T20 World Cup 2026: Dates, Teams, Groups, and Other Details
As reported by ESPN Cricinfo, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has specified a window for the showcase event next year. The tournament is expected to take place between February 7 and March 8. The final is expected to take place in Ahmedabad or Colombo (if Pakistan qualify).
A total of five venues are shortlisted in India to host these matches, while two venues in Sri Lanka will be hosting these high-profile games. With India and Pakistan are not taking part in any competition held in each other’s countries because of the political issues, two venues will be ready to host the final.
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If Pakistan qualifies for the final, then it will be held in Colombo, or else in Ahmedabad. 15 out of 20 participating teams have been confirmed through rankings or qualifiers already. Two of the remaining five will qualify through the Africa qualifiers, and the remaining three from the Asia and East Asia Pacific qualifiers.
It will begin with a group stage where four groups are divided with five teams each. It will be followed by Super 8, where the top two teams from four groups will qualify. Among them, the four semifinalists will be decided.
The tournament will feature a total of 55 games, including the final. With India hosting four big events in the first half of 2026, the ICC and the BCCI had to find a certain window to host the T20 World Cup 2025.
It will start with New Zealand’s tour of India between January 11 and 31, followed by the Women’s Premier League from early January to early February. Hence, the T20 World Cup 2026 is likely to be held after WPL 2026, which will then be followed by the Indian Premier League 2026.
