ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Complete Schedule, Venues, and Teams
The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Here's everything you need to know about the tournament schedule and format.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, bringing the shortest format's biggest tournament to the subcontinent. Here's the complete guide to the upcoming mega event.
Tournament Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Hosts | India & Sri Lanka |
| Dates | October 15 - November 15, 2026 |
| Teams | 20 |
| Matches | 55 |
| Format | Group Stage + Super 8 + Knockouts |
Host Venues
India (10 Venues)
| Venue | City | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | 132,000 |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | 66,000 |
| M.A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | 50,000 |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | 33,000 |
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bangalore | 40,000 |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi | 41,000 |
| Rajiv Gandhi Stadium | Hyderabad | 55,000 |
| BRSABV Ekana Stadium | Lucknow | 50,000 |
| PCA Stadium | Mohali | 26,000 |
| HPCA Stadium | Dharamsala | 23,000 |
Sri Lanka (4 Venues)
| Venue | City | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| R. Premadasa Stadium | Colombo | 35,000 |
| Pallekele International | Kandy | 35,000 |
| Galle International | Galle | 35,000 |
| Hambantota International | Hambantota | 35,000 |
Qualified Teams
Automatic Qualifiers (12 Teams)
- India (Host)
- Sri Lanka (Host)
- England (Defending Champions)
- Australia
- Pakistan
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- West Indies
- Bangladesh
- Afghanistan
- Ireland
- Zimbabwe
Through Qualifiers (8 Teams) Regional qualifiers will determine the remaining 8 teams from:
- Africa Qualifier
- Americas Qualifier
- Asia Qualifier
- Europe Qualifier
- East Asia-Pacific Qualifier
Tournament Format
Round 1: Group Stage
20 teams divided into 4 groups of 5 teams each.
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Australia | England | Pakistan |
| South Africa | New Zealand | West Indies | Sri Lanka |
| Bangladesh | Ireland | Afghanistan | Zimbabwe |
| Qualifier 1 | Qualifier 3 | Qualifier 5 | Qualifier 7 |
| Qualifier 2 | Qualifier 4 | Qualifier 6 | Qualifier 8 |
Top 2 from each group advance to Super 8
Round 2: Super 8
8 qualified teams divided into 2 groups of 4.
Top 2 from each Super 8 group advance to Semi-Finals
Knockout Stage
- Semi-Final 1: Winner Group 1 vs Runner-up Group 2
- Semi-Final 2: Winner Group 2 vs Runner-up Group 1
- Final
Key Dates
| Event | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Ceremony | Oct 15 | Ahmedabad |
| First Match | Oct 16 | Ahmedabad |
| India's First Match | Oct 17 | Chennai |
| Super 8 Begins | Nov 1 | Various |
| Semi-Final 1 | Nov 12 | Mumbai |
| Semi-Final 2 | Nov 13 | Kolkata |
| Final | Nov 15 | Ahmedabad |
India's Group Stage Schedule
| Match | Opponent | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qualifier 1 | Oct 17 | Chennai |
| 2 | Bangladesh | Oct 20 | Kolkata |
| 3 | South Africa | Oct 24 | Delhi |
| 4 | Qualifier 2 | Oct 27 | Mumbai |
Prize Money
| Position | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|
| Winner | $2.5 Million |
| Runner-up | $1.25 Million |
| Semi-finalists | $625,000 each |
| Super 8 exit | $300,000 each |
| Group stage exit | $100,000 each |
Broadcast Information
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| India | Star Sports / JioCinema |
| UK | Sky Sports |
| Australia | Fox Cricket |
| USA | Willow TV |
| Worldwide | ICC.tv |
Key Storylines to Watch
- India's Home Advantage: Can India finally win a World Cup on home soil?
- England's Title Defense: Will Jos Buttler's men retain the trophy?
- Australia's Dominance: Can they add another ICC trophy?
- Pakistan's Challenge: Can they overcome India in India?
- Associate Nations: Which qualifiers will cause upsets?
Historical Context
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | India | South Africa | USA/WI |
| 2022 | England | Pakistan | Australia |
| 2021 | Australia | New Zealand | UAE |
What Makes This World Cup Special
- Largest Ever: 20 teams, most in T20 WC history
- Iconic Venues: World's largest cricket stadium hosts final
- Subcontinent Magic: India-Sri Lanka joint hosting
- Timing: Perfect weather conditions in October-November
- Legacy: Could define careers of current generation stars
Mark your calendars for October 2026 - the biggest T20 spectacle is coming to the subcontinent!
Tags
T20 World CupcricketICCIndiaSri Lankaschedule2026
Category
sports
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