The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is not just another tournament; it is a rapid-fire fiesta of boundaries, wickets, and mind-bending strategies. With an expanded format, more teams, and a fresh set of hosts, this promises to be the biggest and most electric edition yet. Forget your alarm clocks; the cricket fever is set to hit hard in early 2026!

T20 World Cup 2026

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 marks the tenth edition of this premier international Twenty20 cricket tournament. Following the success of the 2024 edition in the USA and West Indies, the ICC is looking to build on the format’s explosive growth.

Key Tournament Overview:

• Hosts: India and Sri Lanka (jointly hosting)

• Dates: February 9, 2026 – March 8, 2026

• Teams: 20 teams (expanded format)

• Matches: 55 matches

This tournament is particularly exciting for Indian fans as it marks a return of a major ICC event to home soil. Sri Lanka, too, is eager to showcase its vibrant cricketing culture alongside its subcontinental neighbor.

The Format

The T20 World Cup 2026 edition will maintain the expanded 20-team format introduced in 2024. Here is a breakdown of how the tournament structure will likely unfold:

• Group Stage (Round 1): 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five. Each team plays every other team in its group once.

• Super 8s: The top two teams from each of the four groups (8 teams in total) will advance to the Super 8s. These 8 teams will then be split into two groups of four.

• Semi-Finals: The top two teams from each Super 8 group will qualify for the semi-finals (4 teams).

• Final: The winners of the semi-finals will battle it out for the coveted T20 World Cup trophy.

Confirmed & Provisional Venues:

While the final match allocation of T20 World Cup 2026 is released by the ICC, a list of provisional venues has been shared, promising a diverse cricketing experience across India and Sri Lanka.

Confirmed Indian Venues:

• Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai: Known for its electric atmosphere and high-scoring matches.

• M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru: A batting paradise, often seeing scores over 200.

• M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai: “Chepauk” offers a traditional spin-friendly pitch.

• Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad: The world’s largest cricket stadium, capable of hosting massive crowds for key matches.

• Eden Gardens, Kolkata: The “Coliseum of Cricket,” rich in history and atmosphere.

• Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi: A compact ground where boundaries flow freely.

Confirmed Sri Lankan Venues:

• R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s largest stadium, a consistent host of international matches.

• Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy: Nestled amidst scenic hills, known for its balanced pitches.

• Galle International Stadium, Galle: A picturesque ground famous for its fortress backdrop, likely for early group stage matches.

Group Stage Matches 

07 Feb 2026 – Opening Day

• 11:00 AM — Pakistan vs Netherlands — SSC, Colombo

• 03:00 PM — West Indies vs Bangladesh — Kolkata

• 07:00 PM — India vs United States — Mumbai

08 Feb 2026

• 11:00 AM — New Zealand vs Afghanistan — Chennai

• 03:00 PM — England vs Nepal — Mumbai

• 07:00 PM — Sri Lanka vs Ireland — Premadasa, Colombo

09 Feb 2026

• 11:00 AM — Bangladesh vs Italy — Kolkata

• 03:00 PM — Zimbabwe vs Oman — SSC, Colombo

• 07:00 PM — South Africa vs Canada — Ahmedabad

10 Feb 2026

• 11:00 AM — Netherlands vs Namibia — Delhi

• 03:00 PM — New Zealand vs UAE — Chennai

• 07:00 PM — Pakistan vs USA — SSC, Colombo

11 Feb 2026

• 11:00 AM — South Africa vs Afghanistan — Ahmedabad

• 03:00 PM — Australia vs Ireland — Premadasa, Colombo

• 07:00 PM — England vs West Indies — Mumbai

12 Feb 2026

• 11:00 AM — Sri Lanka vs Oman — Kandy

• 03:00 PM — Nepal vs Italy — Mumbai

• 07:00 PM — India vs Namibia — Delhi

13 Feb 2026

• 11:00 AM — Australia vs Zimbabwe — Premadasa, Colombo

India Group A Fixtures specifically

• 7 Feb – India vs USA — Mumbai

• 12 Feb – India vs Namibia — Delhi

• 15 Feb – India vs Pakistan — R. Premadasa, Colombo (subject to political arrangements)

• 18 Feb – India vs Netherlands — Ahmedabad

Knockout Stages

Super 8 Stage: From 22 Feb 2026 across venues in India & Sri Lanka.

Semi-Finals:

• 04 Mar 2026 – Semi-Final 1 — Kolkata or Colombo

• 05 Mar 2026 – Semi-Final 2 — Mumbai

Final:

• 08 Mar 2026 — T20 World Cup Final — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (or Colombo if Pakistan qualifies)

Streaming Platforms of T20 World Cup 2026 (Quick Guide)

Region / Country	Streaming Platform
India / South Asia	JioHotstar / JioStar/Star Sports Network
USA & Canada	Willow TV (+ YouTube free for some matches)
UK & Ireland	Sky Go / NOW
Australia	Prime Video
New Zealand	Sky Sport NZ app
MENA	StarzPlay / StarzON
Global (selected regions)	ICC.tv