The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed the seven venues that will host matches during the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
According to the announcement, India’s five confirmed venues are Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai. In Sri Lanka, Kandy and Colombo have been finalised, while one additional venue is expected to be decided at a later stage following further inspection and logistical review.
The tournament is scheduled to begin on 7 February 2026, with the grand finale to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 8 March 2026, marking the conclusion of the tenth edition of the T20 World Cup. However, if Pakistan qualifies for the final, the match will be staged at a neutral venue due to the prevailing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan.
The ICC has also confirmed that Pakistan’s matches throughout the tournament will take place at neutral venues in Sri Lanka, in accordance with an agreement between the two cricket boards. This follows a similar arrangement made during the Asia Cup, when the two neighbouring nations met at neutral grounds.
The tournament format will remain unchanged, featuring 20 teams divided into four groups of five. Each team will play the others once within their group, and the top two sides from each group will progress to the Super Eight stage. The Super Eight will consist of two groups of four, from which the top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will contest the grand final.
Teams Qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup
| Qualification Path | Teams |
|---|---|
| Hosts | India, Sri Lanka |
| Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup | Australia, England, Bangladesh, South Africa, United States, Afghanistan, West Indies |
| Direct Qualification (ICC Rankings) | New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland |
| Regional Qualifiers | Canada (Americas), Italy and Netherlands (Europe), Namibia and Zimbabwe (Africa), Nepal, Oman, and UAE (Asia-East Asia Pacific) |
This marks the first-ever T20 World Cup appearance for Italy, a significant milestone for European cricket. The inclusion of new entrants from multiple continents reflects the ICC’s continued emphasis on global expansion and the growing popularity of the shortest format of the game.
With matches set across iconic cricketing cities in India and scenic venues in Sri Lanka, the 2026 T20 World Cup promises to deliver a vibrant mix of subcontinental passion, high-intensity rivalries, and emerging cricketing stories from around the world.
