ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule, Venues, Format, Groups and All You Need to Know
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| Image Credit - ICC |
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup tenth edition will likely become one of the most competitive and high-quality T20 World Cups ever held within the history of cricket. Hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup will be filled with some of the world's best teams playing in front of large crowds at many legendary cricket venues.
With 20 teams scheduled to compete, all fielding star-quality players and competing in some fantastic venues throughout the subcontinent, the next T20 World Cup should take the standard of T20 cricket up another notch.
Hosts and Venues: Cricket’s Biggest Stage Across India and Sri Lanka
The tournament will be played across eight venues, five in India and three in Sri Lanka, offering diverse conditions that will test teams’ adaptability.
Venues in India
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
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Eden Gardens, Kolkata
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Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
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Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
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M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Venues in Sri Lanka
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R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
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SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo
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Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy
The Final, scheduled for March 8, will be played either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, with the ICC yet to confirm the venue.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Key Dates
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February 7 – Tournament Opener
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February 22 – Super 8 Stage Begins
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March 4 – Semi-final 1
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March 5 – Semi-final 2
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March 8 – Final
Tournament Format Explained
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is sticking with the same format that worked well in the USA and West Indies. Twenty teams will battle it out for the T20 title. The setup is made to keep things competitive and give all teams a fair shot.
Group Stage
It all kicks off with the Group Stage. The 20 teams are split into four groups of five. Each team plays the other four in their group, so everyone gets at least four games. After the group games, the top two teams from each group go on to the next round. This way, teams that play well consistently get rewarded.
Super 8 Stage
The eight teams that make it out of the Group Stage head to the Super 8 round. Here, they’re divided into two groups of four teams each. Like before, teams play everyone else in their group. Now, things get serious! Only the top two teams from each Super 8 group get to move on to the knockout rounds.
Knockout Stage
The last part of the tournament is the Knockout Stage, with two semi-finals. The winners of these intense matches face off in the Final. That's where the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 champion will be decided.
All in all, the tournament has 55 matches. Fans can expect non-stop, action-packed cricket from start to finish.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
Group A
India, Pakistan, United States, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B
Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C
England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy
Group D
New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, United Arab Emirates
Each group presents its own challenges, with several potential giant-killing matchups on the cards.
Defending Champions: India
India are the defending champions in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, having claimed their fifth title through a nail, biting victory over South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final. Virat Kohli played a match, winning innings which powered the Indian side as he came up with a calm 76 off 59 balls, in the process, he also took the Player of the Match award in the final game of the tournament.
Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded the India's bowling unit splendidly and his regularity and precision throughout the competition resulted in his 15 wickets haul, hence, he was awarded the Player of the Tournament trophy. Having a well, balanced team with tremendous batting and bowling bench strength and having players who are capable of delivering under pressure, India will be one of the go, to teams for the title race again.
Special Playing Conditions for T20 World Cup 2026
To make sure things are fair at the T20 World Cup in 2026, the ICC has come up with some clear rules for when games are really close. If a match is tied, we'll see a Super Over to decide the winner – that should be exciting! And if that's also a tie? We'll just keep playing Super Overs until someone wins.
Plus, the ICC is giving extra time for all the important knockout games, like the semi-finals and the final. This way, we know every game will have a winner, and the fans are sure to see a result.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 will be a landmark event with the best teams in the world playing at historical venues, great rivalries, and incredible worldwide interest. With defending champion India playing at home and Sri Lanka creating equally tough conditions, fans should expect memorable moments and high-pressure matches throughout the tournament.
As the countdown starts, the entire world of cricket is looking forward to a celebration of drama, art and excellence in sports at its finest.
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