The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest and most exciting edition in the tournament’s history. Scheduled to take place in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026, this landmark tournament will feature 12 teams for the first time, making it the largest Women’s T20 World Cup ever staged.
Important Note: There is no Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled for 2025. The next edition is confirmed for 2026 in England and Wales.
Tournament Overview
Key Tournament Details
| Tournament Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Host Countries | England and Wales |
| Duration | June 12 – July 5, 2026 (24 days) |
| Total Teams | 12 teams |
| Total Matches | 33 matches |
| Venues | 7 iconic venues |
| Current Champions | New Zealand |
Tournament Significance
This edition marks the milestone 10th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which began in 2009. For the first time in the tournament’s history, 12 teams will compete for the prestigious trophy, promising unprecedented excitement and competition.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
The 12 qualifying teams are divided into two groups of six teams each. All six teams in a group play with all the others for a total of fifteen matches per group, and the top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage.
Group 1
| Team | Qualification Status |
|---|---|
| Australia | Automatic (Top 5 from 2024) |
| South Africa | Automatic (Top 5 from 2024) |
| India | Automatic (Top 5 from 2024) |
| Pakistan | Automatic (ICC Rankings) |
| Qualifier 1 | Through Global Qualifier |
| Qualifier 2 | Through Global Qualifier |
Group 2
| Team | Qualification Status |
|---|---|
| England | Host Nation |
| New Zealand | Defending Champions |
| West Indies | Automatic (Top 5 from 2024) |
| Sri Lanka | Automatic (Top 5 from 2024) |
| Qualifier 3 | Through Global Qualifier |
| Qualifier 4 | Through Global Qualifier |
Complete Tournament Schedule
Opening Matches
The tournament will open with England taking on Sri Lanka under lights at Edgbaston on Friday 12 June, kicking off a whirlwind month of world-class action.
Key Matches to Watch
India vs Pakistan Blockbuster– The most anticipated clash between India and Pakistan is scheduled for June 14 at Edgbaston, Birmingham at 14:30 BST (2:30 PM local time). Though the head to head records between India and Pakistan women have been completely one sided in the past but still the match is exptected to be a thriller.
Australia vs India– The final group stage match between powerhouses Australia and India will take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 28 at 14:30 BST.
Complete Match Schedule
Week 1 (June 12-18, 2026)
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jun 12 | England vs Sri Lanka | Edgbaston | 18:30 |
| Sat, Jun 13 | Qualifier vs Qualifier | Old Trafford | 10:30 |
| Sat, Jun 13 | Australia vs South Africa | Old Trafford | 14:30 |
| Sat, Jun 13 | West Indies vs New Zealand | Hampshire Bowl | 18:30 |
| Sun, Jun 14 | Qualifier vs Qualifier | Edgbaston | 10:30 |
| Sun, Jun 14 | India vs Pakistan | Edgbaston | 14:30 |
| Tue, Jun 16 | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka | Hampshire Bowl | 14:30 |
| Tue, Jun 16 | England vs Qualifier | Hampshire Bowl | 18:30 |
| Wed, Jun 17 | Australia vs Qualifier | Headingley | 10:30 |
| Wed, Jun 17 | India vs Qualifier | Headingley | 14:30 |
| Wed, Jun 17 | South Africa vs Pakistan | Edgbaston | 18:30 |
| Thu, Jun 18 | West Indies vs Qualifier | Headingley | 18:30 |
Week 2 (June 19-25, 2026)
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jun 19 | New Zealand vs Qualifier | Hampshire Bowl | 18:30 |
| Sat, Jun 20 | Australia vs Qualifier | Hampshire Bowl | 10:30 |
| Sat, Jun 20 | Pakistan vs Qualifier | Hampshire Bowl | 14:30 |
| Sat, Jun 20 | England vs Qualifier | Headingley | 18:30 |
| Sun, Jun 21 | West Indies vs Sri Lanka | Bristol County Ground | 10:30 |
| Sun, Jun 21 | South Africa vs India | Old Trafford | 14:30 |
| Tue, Jun 23 | New Zealand vs Qualifier | Bristol County Ground | 10:30 |
| Tue, Jun 23 | Sri Lanka vs Qualifier | Bristol County Ground | 14:30 |
| Tue, Jun 23 | Australia vs Pakistan | Headingley | 18:30 |
| Wed, Jun 24 | England vs West Indies | Lord’s | 18:30 |
| Thu, Jun 25 | India vs Qualifier | Old Trafford | 14:30 |
| Thu, Jun 25 | South Africa vs Qualifier | Bristol County Ground | 18:30 |
Week 3 (June 26-28, 2026)
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jun 26 | Sri Lanka vs Qualifier | Old Trafford | 18:30 |
| Sat, Jun 27 | Pakistan vs Qualifier | Bristol County Ground | 10:30 |
| Sat, Jun 27 | West Indies vs Qualifier | Bristol County Ground | 14:30 |
| Sat, Jun 27 | England vs New Zealand | The Oval | 18:30 |
| Sun, Jun 28 | South Africa vs Qualifier | Lord’s | 10:30 |
| Sun, Jun 28 | Australia vs India | Lord’s | 14:30 |
Knockout Stage Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Jun 30 | Semi-Final 1 | The Oval | 14:30 |
| Thu, Jul 2 | Semi-Final 2 | The Oval | 18:30 |
| Sun, Jul 5 | FINAL | Lord’s | 14:30 |
Tournament Venues
Complete Venue List
| Venue | City | Capacity | Notable Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lord’s Cricket Ground | London | 31,100 | Final, Australia vs India |
| The Oval | London | 25,500 | Semi-Finals |
| Edgbaston | Birmingham | 25,000 | Opening, India vs Pakistan |
| Old Trafford | Manchester | 26,000 | Australia vs South Africa |
| Headingley | Leeds | 18,350 | Multiple Group Matches |
| Hampshire Bowl | Southampton | 15,000 | Multiple Group Matches |
| Bristol County Ground | Bristol | 17,500 | Multiple Group Matches |
Venue Highlights
Lord’s Cricket Ground – The Home of Cricket Lord’s will host the tournament final on July 5, making it a historic venue for the culmination of the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup ever. The venue will also stage the marquee Australia vs India clash and other key matches.
Edgbaston – Tournament Opener Birmingham’s iconic Edgbaston will host the tournament opener between England and Sri Lanka, as well as the blockbuster India vs Pakistan encounter.
India’s Complete Schedule
| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Jun 14 | Pakistan | Edgbaston | 14:30 |
| Match 2 | Jun 17 | Qualifier | Headingley | 14:30 |
| Match 3 | Jun 21 | South Africa | Old Trafford | 14:30 |
| Match 4 | Jun 25 | Qualifier | Old Trafford | 14:30 |
| Match 5 | Jun 28 | Australia | Lord’s | 14:30 |
Team Qualification Process
Automatic Qualifiers (8 Teams)
- Host Nation: England
- Defending Champions: New Zealand
- Top 5 from 2024 WTC: Australia, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies
- ICC Rankings Qualifier: Pakistan
Global Qualifier (4 Teams)
The remaining four teams will be determined through the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier scheduled for 2025. Various regional qualifiers are currently taking place:
- Asia Region Qualifier (completed)
- Americas Qualifier (completed)
- Europe Qualifiers (ongoing)
- Africa Qualifier (scheduled)
Tournament Format
Group Stage
- Format: Round-robin within groups
- Matches per team: 5 group stage matches
- Qualification: Top 2 from each group advance to semi-finals
Knockout Stage
- Semi-Finals: June 30 & July 2 at The Oval
- Final: July 5 at Lord’s Cricket Ground
Historical Context
Previous Tournament Winners
| Year | Host | Winner | Final Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UAE | New Zealand | Dubai |
| 2023 | South Africa | Australia | Cape Town |
| 2020 | Australia | Australia | Melbourne |
| 2018 | West Indies | Australia | Antigua |
Tournament Growth
The expansion to 12 teams represents significant growth in women’s cricket, with participation increasing from the original 8-team format to create more opportunities for emerging cricket nations.
Ticket Information
How to Purchase Tickets
Tickets are now on sale across all matches for pre-registered fans. The first wave of priority tickets for the tournament final sold out in 24 hours, indicating unprecedented demand.
Official Ticket Website: womens.t20worldcup.com
Ticket Categories
- Group Stage matches
- Semi-Finals at The Oval
- Final at Lord’s Cricket Ground
- Season passes available
Broadcasting and Coverage
The tournament will receive comprehensive global coverage with broadcasting partners confirmed across multiple regions. Detailed broadcasting information will be announced closer to the tournament.
Tournament Impact
Women’s Cricket Development
Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild emphasized: “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement that will rewrite the narrative about women’s cricket.”
Legacy Goals
- Inspire women and girls to participate in cricket
- Mainstream women’s cricket coverage
- Set new attendance records
- Create lasting infrastructure benefits
Key Players to Watch
Star Players by Team
- Australia: Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Megan Schutt
- England: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Katherine Sciver-Brunt
- India: Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur
- New Zealand: Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr
- South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnim Ismail
Conclusion
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 promises to be a watershed moment for women’s cricket. With 12 teams competing across iconic English venues, the tournament will showcase the very best of women’s T20 cricket. The India vs Pakistan clash on June 14 at Edgbaston and the final at Lord’s on July 5 are set to be particular highlights in what will be 24 days of unmissable cricket action.
This tournament represents not just a competition, but a celebration of how far women’s cricket has come and a platform to inspire the next generation of players and fans worldwide.
Note: This article will be updated with additional details as they become available, including confirmed qualifier teams and detailed broadcasting information.