The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is one of the most awaited cricket tournaments globally. Cricket fans are excited as the next edition will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, making it one of the biggest T20 World Cups ever. While the official full schedule is yet to be announced, ICC has already released important details such as the tournament format, number of teams, and qualification process.
This article covers the expected schedule month, host venues, team list, format, and latest updates for the T20 World Cup 2026.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Key Highlights
- Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
- Edition: 10th
- Hosts: India & Sri Lanka
- Format: 20 teams
- Expected Dates: February – March 2026 (official schedule awaited)
- Organiser: International Cricket Council (ICC)
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Expected Schedule
ICC has not yet published the day-by-day match schedule, but the tournament is expected to be played in February–March 2026 to avoid monsoon season and align with India–Sri Lanka weather conditions.
Expected Timeline
| Stage | Expected Timeline |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | February 2026 |
| Super Eight | Late February – Early March 2026 |
| Semi-Finals | March 2026 |
| Final | March 2026 |
The full fixture list will be updated once ICC officially releases it.
Host Countries & Venues (Expected)
India and Sri Lanka will co-host the event. ICC will announce final venues soon, but the following stadiums are expected:
India (Probable Venues)
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (Capacity – 1,32,000)
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (Capacity – 33,100)
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata (Capacity – 68,000)
- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (Capacity – 40,000)
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi (Capacity – 35,200)
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (Capacity – 38,200)
- Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad (Capacity – 55,000)
Sri Lanka (Probable Venues)
- R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (Capacity – 35,000)
- Pallekele International Stadium (Capacity – 35,000)
- Galle International Stadium (Capacity – 35,000)
Teams Qualified for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
A total of 20 teams will participate.
Automatically Qualified (Based on 2024 results + Hosts)
- India (Host)
- Sri Lanka (Host)
- Australia
- England
- South Africa
- West Indies
- New Zealand
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- USA
Remaining Teams
The remaining 10 teams will qualify through regional ICC qualifiers (Asia, Europe, Africa, Americas, East-Asia Pacific).
Tournament Format 2026
The format will be similar to the 2024 edition.
1. Group Stage
- 20 teams
- Divided into 4 groups (each group of 5)
- Top 2 teams from each group advance
2. Super Eight
- 8 teams
- Divided into 2 groups of 4
3. Knockouts
- 2 Semi-Finals
- Grand Final
Latest ICC Updates for T20 World Cup 2026
- India & Sri Lanka officially confirmed as hosts
- 20-team format retained
- Schedule to be released mid-2025
- ICC to introduce improved review & technology systems
- Crowd capacity expected to break global T20 records
Why the 2026 T20 World Cup Will Be Special
- First T20 World Cup hosted by India since 2016
- Revival of Sri Lankan cricket hosting duties
- More teams, more matches, more global reach
- Stronger associate teams like USA, Namibia, Netherlands expected to surprise
- Home advantage for India could make them favourites
FAQs on ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
1. When will the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begin?
Expected to start in February 2026.
2. Has ICC released the full schedule?
Not yet. It will be announced in 2025.
3. Which countries are hosting the 2026 T20 World Cup?
India and Sri Lanka.
4. How many teams will play in 2026?
20 teams.
5. How many matches will be played?
Expected 55+ matches (final number pending ICC confirmation).
6. What is the format of the tournament?
Group Stage → Super 8 → Semi-finals → Final.
7. Will Pakistan play in India?
Yes, unless political conditions change. ICC will allocate matches accordingly.
8. When will tickets be available?
Likely from late 2025 on the ICC official ticketing portal.
9. Which team won the last T20 World Cup?
India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
10. Where will the final be held?
Expected in India (Ahmedabad likely), but ICC will confirm soon.