The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to be one of the biggest ever, with 20 nations competing for supremacy in India and Sri Lanka. This comprehensive outlook will provide all the necessary information regarding the event, including complete tournament schedule, a full list of competing nations, major venues, tournament structure, and where you can watch the matches.
Tournament Overview
| Category | Details |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Edition | 10th |
| Format | Twenty20 International (T20I) |
| Organiser | International Cricket Council (ICC) |
| Hosts | India & Sri Lanka |
| Total Teams | 20 |
| Total Matches | 55 |
| Venues | 8 (5 in India, 3 in Sri Lanka) |
| Defending Champions | India |
Who Is Hosting the T20 World Cup 2026?
India and Sri Lanka will host the 2026 T20 World Cup together. Initially, Sri Lanka was to be the hosting nation; however, the ICC has now allowed the T20 World Cup to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka due to the increase from 16 to 20 teams and the limited infrastructure available in Sri Lanka.
According to ICC guidelines and bilateral agreements, all matches that involve Pakistan will be played in neutral venues and hosted in Sri Lanka.
Start and End Dates
- Start Date: 7 February 2026
- Final Match: 8 March 2026
The tournament window was allocated in the ICC Men’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) 2023–2027, with the final schedule announced on 25 November 2025.
How Many Teams Are Playing in the T20 World Cup 2026?
A total of 20 international teams will compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 202.
Qualification Breakdown
- Host nations: 2 teams
- Top 7 teams from the 2024 T20 World Cup (excluding hosts)
- Top 3 teams from ICC Men’s T20I Rankings (not already qualified)
- Regional qualifiers: 8 teams
Notably, Italy qualified for the Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time in history.
Full List of 20 Teams
| Qualification Method | Teams |
| Hosts | India, Sri Lanka |
| Top 7 from 2024 WC | Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, United States, West Indies |
| T20I Rankings | Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan |
| Americas Qualifier | Canada |
| Europe Qualifier | Italy, Netherlands |
| Africa Qualifier | Namibia, Zimbabwe |
| Asia–EAP Qualifier | Nepal, Oman, United Arab Emirates |
T20 World Cup 2026 Format Explained
The tournament format remains unchanged and is divided into three main stages.
Group Stage
- 20 teams divided into 4 groups of 5 teams
- Each team plays 4 matches (round-robin format)
- Top 2 teams from each group qualify for the Super 8 stage
Super 8 Stage
- 8 teams divided into 2 groups of 4
- Each team plays 3 matches
- No points carried forward from the group stage
- Top 2 teams from each Super 8 group advance to knockouts
Knockout Stage
- Two semi-finals
- One final
- Winners of the semi-finals compete for the championship
T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule (Overview)
| Stage | Dates |
| Group Stage | 7 – 20 February 2026 |
| Super 8 | 21 February – 1 March 2026 |
| Semi-finals | 4 & 5 March 2026 |
| Final | 8 March 2026 |
A total of 55 matches will be played during the tournament.
Complete T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: Full Fixtures, Dates, Venues and Match List
T20 World Cup 2026 Venues & Host Cities
India Venues (5)
| Stadium | City | Capacity |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | 132,000 |
| M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | 39,000 |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi | 55,000 |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | 68,000 |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | 33,108 |
Sri Lanka Venues (3)
| Stadium | City | Capacity |
| R. Premadasa Stadium | Colombo | 35,000 |
| SSC Cricket Ground | Colombo | 10,000 |
| Pallekele Cricket Stadium | Kandy | 35,000 |
Where to Find Team Squads & Match Updates
Team Squads
- Each team can name 15 players
- Provisional squads submitted by 8 January 2026
- Final changes allowed until 31 January 2026
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2026 Squads: Full Team-Wise Player Lists and Updates
Squads will be available on:
- ICC official website
- National cricket board websites
- ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz
Also Read: India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Full Player List, Captain and Analysis
Match Updates and Schedules
Live scores, points tables, and match reports can be followed on:
- ICC official platforms
- ESPNcricinfo
- Cricbuzz
- Official broadcaster apps
Where to Watch the T20 World Cup 2026
Broadcast and streaming rights vary by region:
- India: Star Sports Network & Disney+ Hotstar
- Sri Lanka: Local TV broadcasters and ICC digital partners
- Global: ICC.tv, regional sports networks, and official streaming partners
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 promises a month-long celebration. With emerging teams like Italy making their debut and traditional powerhouses, the tournament is set to deliver memorable cricketing moments all the way.