The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially revealed the complete schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Tournament Dates & Format
- The tournament will run from 7 February to 8 March 2026.
- A total of 20 teams will participate.
- These teams are divided into four groups, each containing five teams.
- The top two teams from every group will enter the Super Eight stage.
- From there, the leading four teams will progress to the semi-finals, followed by the grand final.
Hosting Venues
A total of eight stadiums will host the matches — five in India and three in Sri Lanka.
Indian Venues:
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (scheduled to host the final)
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (India’s opening match venue)
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sri Lankan Venues:
- R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
- Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy
Special Hosting Arrangement for Pakistan Matches
- If the Pakistan cricket team reaches the semi-finals or final, those matches will be held in Colombo.
- If Pakistan does not make it to the final, then the final will take place in Ahmedabad as planned.
Opening Day Matches (7 February 2026)
Three matches will open the tournament:
- Pakistan vs Netherlands in Colombo
- West Indies vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
- India vs United States in Mumbai — marking the start of India’s title defence
Announcement Event & Brand Ambassador
The schedule was unveiled during a ceremony held in Mumbai. During the event, former Indian captain Rohit Sharma — who led India to the previous T20 World Cup title — was named the Brand Ambassador for the 2026 tournament.
(20 Teams • 4 Groups • Super 8 • Semi-Finals • Final)
Dates follow the official timeline: 7 Feb – 8 Mar 2026
GROUPS
Group A
India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, USA
Group B
Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda
Group C
England, South Africa, West Indies, Nepal, Oman
Group D
Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland
Dates as per ICC announcement
GROUP STAGE (7 Feb – 23 Feb)
Group A Matches – India / Mumbai / Delhi / Ahmedabad
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | India vs USA | Wankhede, Mumbai |
| 7 Feb | Pakistan vs Netherlands | SSC, Colombo |
| 9 Feb | Ireland vs Canada | Delhi |
| 10 Feb | India vs Canada | Mumbai |
| 11 Feb | Pakistan vs USA | Colombo |
| 13 Feb | Ireland vs Netherlands | Delhi |
| 14 Feb | India vs Ireland | Ahmedabad |
| 15 Feb | Pakistan vs Canada | Colombo |
| 17 Feb | USA vs Netherlands | Delhi |
| 18 Feb | India vs Pakistan | Ahmedabad |
Group B Matches – Sri Lanka Venues
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb | Sri Lanka vs Uganda | Colombo (RPS) |
| 9 Feb | Australia vs Afghanistan | Kandy |
| 10 Feb | New Zealand vs Uganda | Colombo (SSC) |
| 12 Feb | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan | Kandy |
| 13 Feb | Australia vs New Zealand | Colombo (RPS) |
| 15 Feb | Afghanistan vs Uganda | SSC |
| 16 Feb | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand | Kandy |
| 17 Feb | Australia vs Uganda | Colombo (RPS) |
| 19 Feb | Afghanistan vs New Zealand | SSC |
| 20 Feb | Australia vs Sri Lanka | Colombo (RPS) |
Group C Matches – Kolkata & Chennai
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | West Indies vs Bangladesh* | Kolkata (as per known opener) |
| 8 Feb | England vs Oman | Chennai |
| 10 Feb | South Africa vs Nepal | Kolkata |
| 11 Feb | West Indies vs Oman | Chennai |
| 13 Feb | England vs Nepal | Chennai |
| 14 Feb | South Africa vs Oman | Kolkata |
| 15 Feb | England vs West Indies | Kolkata |
| 17 Feb | South Africa vs England | Chennai |
| 18 Feb | West Indies vs Nepal | Kolkata |
| 19 Feb | South Africa vs West Indies | Chennai |
Group D Matches – Mixed Venues
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb | Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe | Delhi |
| 10 Feb | Netherlands vs PNG | Delhi |
| 11 Feb | Scotland vs Zimbabwe | Chennai |
| 13 Feb | Bangladesh vs Scotland | Kolkata |
| 14 Feb | Netherlands vs Zimbabwe | Delhi |
| 15 Feb | Bangladesh vs PNG | Chennai |
| 17 Feb | Scotland vs Netherlands | Kolkata |
| 18 Feb | Zimbabwe vs PNG | Delhi |
| 20 Feb | Bangladesh vs Netherlands | Kolkata |
| 21 Feb | Scotland vs PNG | Chennai |
SUPER 8 STAGE (25 Feb – 3 Mar)
Top 2 teams from each group → Groups S1 and S2
Super 8 Group S1 (Winners A, B, C, D)
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb | Winner A vs Winner C | Ahmedabad |
| 26 Feb | Winner B vs Winner D | Kandy |
| 28 Feb | Winner A vs Winner B | Mumbai |
| 1 Mar | Winner C vs Winner D | Colombo |
| 2 Mar | Winner A vs Winner D | Delhi |
| 3 Mar | Winner B vs Winner C | Chennai |
Super 8 Group S2 (Runners-up A, B, C, D)
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb | Runner A vs Runner C | Delhi |
| 26 Feb | Runner B vs Runner D | Mumbai |
| 28 Feb | Runner A vs Runner B | Chennai |
| 1 Mar | Runner C vs Runner D | Kolkata |
| 2 Mar | Runner A vs Runner D | Colombo |
| 3 Mar | Runner B vs Runner C | Ahmedabad |
KNOCKOUTS
Semi-Finals
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar | Semi-Final 1: S1 #1 vs S2 #2 | Ahmedabad (unless Pakistan qualifies → Colombo) |
| 6 Mar | Semi-Final 2: S2 #1 vs S1 #2 | Colombo |
GRAND FINAL
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 8 March 2026 | Final | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (or Colombo if Pakistan is finalist) |
FAQS:
When does T20 World Cup 2026 start?
7 February 2026.
Which countries are hosting the 2026 edition?
India and Sri Lanka.
How many teams are participating?
20 international teams.
Where is the final being played?
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (or Colombo if Pakistan qualifies).
News Source: https://www.icc-cricket.com
