The International Cricket Council has unveiled the complete fixtures and group composition for the T20 World Cup 2026, set to commence on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka. The 10th edition promises high-octane action as 20 teams battle for cricket’s most coveted prize in the shortest format.
Tournament Structure and Venues
The month-long tournament will span 29 days, concluding with the final on March 8. Eight world-class venues will host the competition—five in India (Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad, MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai, Arun Jaitley Stadium Delhi, Wankhede Stadium Mumbai, Eden Gardens Kolkata) and three in Sri Lanka (R. Premadasa Stadium, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium).
Defending champions India open their campaign against the United States in Mumbai, aiming to become the first nation to successfully defend their T20 World Cup title. The tournament features 40 group matches before transitioning to the Super Eights phase on February 21, with the top two teams from each group advancing.
Group Breakdown
Group A brings together cricket’s fiercest rivals India and Pakistan, who clash in Colombo on February 15. The USA, Netherlands, and Namibia complete this explosive group.
Group B features 2021 champions Australia alongside hosts Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman.
Group C showcases two-time winners England and West Indies, joined by Bangladesh, Nepal, and tournament debutants Italy.
Group D comprises South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, and the UAE.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah emphasized the subcontinent’s unmatched passion for cricket, while CEO Sanjog Gupta highlighted the tournament’s competitive unpredictability, noting six different champions across the format’s history.
The knockout phase features semi-finals in Kolkata/Colombo and Mumbai, building toward the grand finale at either Ahmedabad or Colombo, where a new champion could be crowned in cricket’s most thrilling format.
