The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the dates and venues for the 2026 edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. The 12-team tournament will kick off on June 12 next year, with the final set to be played on July 5 at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
A total of 33 matches will be held across seven venues in England. These include: Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Headingley, Hampshire Bowl, and the County Ground in Bristol. These details were shared in an official statement by the ICC. The full schedule and match timings will be announced later.
Speaking at the announcement of the upcoming World Cup’s venues and dates, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said, “The UK’s affluent and diverse hosting culture will offer emotional support for each team. Events held here in the past have been memorable. The 2017 edition created a significant milestone in women’s cricket at Lord’s, making it a perfect venue for the final. We are just as excited as the fans about this T20 tournament, which also serves as a preview for cricket’s return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”
For the first time, the Women’s T20 World Cup will feature 12 teams. These will be divided into two groups for the group stage, followed by knockout rounds leading up to the final. Host nation England, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies have already secured spots in the main event. The remaining four teams will qualify through a preliminary qualifying round.
Australia remains the most successful team in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, having won the title six times. England, New Zealand, and the West Indies have each won it once. The most recent edition was held in 2024 in the United Arab Emirates, where New Zealand clinched their first title by defeating South Africa in the final.
