England to Host Historic 12-Team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that England will host the 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June and July 2026 — marking a major milestone as the tournament expands to include 12 teams for the first time in its history.
Set to become the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup to date, the 2026 edition will span 24 days, featuring 33 matches across seven iconic venues in England, including Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Headingley, Hampshire Bowl, and the Bristol County Ground.
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England will open the tournament on 12 June 2026 at Edgbaston against Sri Lanka, as revealed in the full fixture list released by the ICC. The final is scheduled for 5 July at Lord’s, with the semi-finals to be held at The Oval on 30 June and 2 July.
The 12 participating teams will be split into two groups. Group A features defending champions Australia, 2024 runners-up South Africa, arch-rivals India and Pakistan, along with two teams that will qualify through the Global Qualifier. Group B includes hosts England, 2020 champions New Zealand, Sri Lanka, former winners West Indies, and two additional qualifier teams. The top two teams from each group will move forward to the semi-final stage.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt described the upcoming tournament as a landmark moment for women’s sport. “World Cups are always special, but this one already feels different – it has the potential to be truly game-changing,” she said. “Playing on home soil, for the biggest prize, against the best players in the world – it’s going to be unmissable.”
Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild emphasized the broader significance of the event, noting that the competition represents more than just cricket. “This World Cup provides an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement,” she said. “We’ll see incredible, world-class athletes battling it out in front of hundreds of thousands of fans — all contributing to lasting change for women’s sport.”
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