The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be a landmark tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 6 to March 8, 2026. Twenty teams will compete across iconic venues, including Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This post outlines the tournament dates, host venues, qualified teams, and their paths to the World Cup.
Tournament Dates and Format
The tournament will span 31 days, starting February 6 and culminating in the final on March 8, 2026. The format consists of four groups of five teams each, with the top two advancing to the Super Eights stage, which is divided into two groups of four. The top two teams from each Super Eight group move on to the semi-finals, leading to the final.
Host Venues
India and Sri Lanka will co-host the event. India’s venues include Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi), M.A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), and Eden Gardens (Kolkata). In Sri Lanka, the main venues are the R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo) and grounds in Kandy, with one more venue to be confirmed.
Teams and Their Qualification Paths
A total of 20 teams have qualified through a blend of automatic qualification and regional tournaments:
- India: Hosts
- Sri Lanka: Hosts
- Afghanistan: Top 7 finish in 2024 T20 World Cup
- Australia: Top 7 finish in 2024 T20 World Cup
- Bangladesh: Top 7 finish in 2024 T20 World Cup
- England: Top 7 finish in 2024 T20 World Cup
- South Africa: Top 7 finish in 2024 T20 World Cup
- USA: Top 7 finish in 2024 T20 World Cup
- West Indies: Top 7 finish in 2024 T20 World Cup
- Ireland: Qualified via ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings
- New Zealand: Qualified via ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings
- Pakistan: Qualified via ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings
- Canada: Americas Qualifier
- Italy: Europe Qualifier
- Netherlands: Europe Qualifier
- Namibia: Africa Qualifier
- Zimbabwe: Africa Qualifier
- Nepal: Asia/EAP Qualifier
- Oman: Asia/EAP Qualifier
- UAE: Asia/EAP Qualifier
Italy will make its debut appearance, adding fresh excitement to the tournament.
What to Expect
With a mix of cricketing powerhouses and emerging teams, plus diverse venues across two cricket-loving nations, the 2026 T20 World Cup promises fast-paced, high-energy cricket action for fans worldwide.
Conclusion
Mark your calendars for February 6 to March 8, 2026, and get ready to witness the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup across iconic venues in India and Sri Lanka. Stay tuned for official squad announcements and finalized match schedules.
