The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup brings 20 teams across two host nations for a month-long competition.
Tournament organizers have structured 55 matches across multiple phases, requiring fans to track group stages, Super 8 fixtures, and knockout rounds.
The icc t20 world cup 2026 schedule has undergone recent updates following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament.
Scotland now replaces Bangladesh in Group C, maintaining the original fixture dates and venues while swapping team assignments.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
Match distribution spans seven venues between India and Sri Lanka, with daily time slots accommodating global viewership across different time zones.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Fixture Overview
India and Sri Lanka jointly host the tournament from February 7 to March 8. The expanded 20-team format divides into four groups of five teams each, with 55 total matches scheduled across group stages, Super 8 rounds, and knockout phases.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament Edition | 10th edition |
| Dates | February 7 to March 8 |
| Host Countries | India and Sri Lanka |
| Total Teams | 20 |
| Groups | 4 groups with 5 teams each |
| Total Matches | 55 (including knockouts) |
| Match Format | T20 (20 overs per side) |
Tournament Duration
The competition runs for 30 days with daily matches scheduled through the group stage. Super 8 rounds begin February 21, followed by semi-finals on March 4-5 and the final on March 8.
Expanded Team Format
Twenty teams represent the largest T20 World Cup field, creating deeper group stages and increased match volume. The format allows more Associate nations to compete alongside established cricket powers, expanding competitive opportunities.
Dual-Host Advantage
India operates five venues while Sri Lanka manages three stadiums. This distribution balances infrastructure capacity with geographic accessibility, allowing both nations to showcase major matches while managing logistical demands. The icc t20 world cup 2026 schedule allocates fixtures based on venue capacity and operational readiness.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
Group stages run through February 20 with round-robin formats determining Super 8 qualifiers. The top two teams from each group advance to two new groups (X and Y), playing six additional matches before semi-final progression. Knockout rounds conclude with the March 8 final.
| Date | Match No. | Match | Group | Venue | Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, February 7 | Match 1 | Pakistan vs Netherlands | A | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 11:00 AM |
| Saturday, February 7 | Match 2 | West Indies vs Scotland | C | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 03:00 PM |
| Saturday, February 7 | Match 3 | India vs United States of America | A | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| Sunday, February 8 | Match 4 | New Zealand vs Afghanistan | D | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 11:00 AM |
| Sunday, February 8 | Match 5 | England vs Nepal | C | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 03:00 PM |
| Sunday, February 8 | Match 6 | Sri Lanka vs Ireland | B | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| Monday, February 9 | Match 7 | Scotland vs Italy | C | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 11:00 AM |
| Monday, February 9 | Match 8 | Zimbabwe vs Oman | B | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 03:00 PM |
| Monday, February 9 | Match 9 | South Africa vs Canada | D | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 07:00 PM |
| Tuesday, February 10 | Match 10 | Netherlands vs Namibia | A | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 11:00 AM |
| Tuesday, February 10 | Match 11 | New Zealand vs United Arab Emirates | D | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 03:00 PM |
| Tuesday, February 10 | Match 12 | Pakistan vs United States of America | A | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| Wednesday, February 11 | Match 13 | South Africa vs Afghanistan | D | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 11:00 AM |
| Wednesday, 11 February | Match 14 | Australia vs Ireland | B | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 03:00 PM |
| Wednesday, 11 February | Match 15 | England vs West Indies | C | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| Thursday, 12 February | Match 16 | Sri Lanka vs Oman | B | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | 11:00 AM |
| Thursday, 12 February | Match 17 | Nepal vs Italy | C | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 03:00 PM |
| Thursday, 12 February | Match 18 | India vs Namibia | A | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 07:00 PM |
| Friday, 13 February | Match 19 | Australia vs Zimbabwe | B | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 11:00 AM |
| Friday, 13 February | Match 20 | Canada vs United Arab Emirates | D | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 03:00 PM |
| Friday, February 13 | Match 21 | United States of America vs Netherlands | A | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 07:00 PM |
| Saturday, 14 February | Match 22 | Ireland vs Oman | B | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 11:00 AM |
| Saturday, 14 February | Match 23 | England vs Scotland | C | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 03:00 PM |
| Saturday, 14 February | Match 24 | New Zealand vs South Africa | D | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 07:00 PM |
| Sunday, 15 February | Match 25 | West Indies vs Nepal | C | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 11:00 AM |
| Sunday, February 15 | Match 26 | United States of America vs Namibia | A | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 03:00 PM |
| Sunday, 15 February | Match 27 | India vs Pakistan | A | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| Monday, 16 February | Match 28 | Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates | D | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 11:00 AM |
| Monday, 16 February | Match 29 | England vs Italy | C | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 03:00 PM |
| Monday, 16 February | Match 30 | Australia vs Sri Lanka | B | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | 07:00 PM |
| Tuesday, February 17 | Match 31 | New Zealand vs Canada | D | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 11:00 AM |
| Tuesday, 17 February | Match 32 | Ireland vs Zimbabwe | B | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | 03:00 PM |
| Tuesday, 17 February | Match 33 | Scotland vs Nepal | C | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| Wednesday, 18 February | Match 34 | South Africa vs United Arab Emirates | D | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 11:00 AM |
| Wednesday, 18 February | Match 35 | Pakistan vs Namibia | A | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 03:00 PM |
| Wednesday, February 18 | Match 36 | India vs Netherlands | A | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 07:00 PM |
| Thursday, 19 February | Match 37 | West Indies vs Italy | C | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 11:00 AM |
| Thursday, 19 February | Match 38 | Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe | B | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 03:00 PM |
| Thursday, 19 February | Match 39 | Afghanistan vs Canada | D | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 07:00 PM |
| Friday, 20 February | Match 40 | Australia vs Oman | B | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | 07:00 PM |
| Saturday, February 21 | Match 41 | Super 8 Group 2 (Y2 vs Y3) | – | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| Sunday, 22 February | Match 42 | Super 8 Group 2 (Y1 vs Y4) | – | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | 03:00 PM |
| Sunday, 22 February | Match 43 | Super 8 Group 1 (X1 vs X4) | – | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 07:00 PM |
| Monday, February 23 | Match 44 | Super 8 Group 1 (X2 vs X3) | – | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| Tuesday, February 24 | Match 45 | Super 8 Group 2 (Y1 vs Y3) | – | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | 07:00 PM |
| Wednesday, 25 February | Match 46 | Super 8 Group 2 (Y2 vs Y4) | – | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| Thursday, February 26 | Match 47 | Super 8 Group 1 (X3 vs X4) | – | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 03:00 PM |
| Thursday, February 26 | Match 48 | Super 8 Group 1 (X1 vs X2) | – | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 07:00 PM |
| Friday, February 27 | Match 49 | Super 8 Group 2 (Y1 vs Y2) | – | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| Saturday, February 28 | Match 50 | Super 8 Group 2 (Y3 vs Y4) | – | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | 07:00 PM |
| Sunday, 1 March | Match 51 | Super 8 Group 1 (X2 vs X4) | – | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 03:00 PM |
| Sunday, March 1 | Match 52 | Super 8 Group 1 (X1 vs X3) | – | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 07:00 PM |
| Wednesday, March 4 | 1st Semi-Final | TBC | – | Eden Gardens, Kolkata/ R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| Thursday, March 5 | 2nd Semi-Final | TBC | – | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| Sunday, March 8 | Final | TBC | – | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad/ R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
Daily Match Timings
Three matches run daily at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 7:00 PM local time during group stages. This structure provides consistent viewing windows for fans across different time zones while maintaining spacing between fixtures for teams and broadcasters.
Group Stage Flow
Each team plays four group matches in round-robin format. Group standings determine Super 8 qualification, with net run rate serving as tiebreaker when teams finish level on points. The icc t20 world cup 2026 schedule spaces matches every 2-3 days per team.
Super 8 & Knockouts
Eight qualified teams enter two new groups for six additional matches each. Top two from each Super 8 group advance to semi-finals. The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Fixtures maintain knockout format with no third-place playoff, concluding with the March 8 final at either Ahmedabad or Colombo.
Scotland Replacement Update
Scotland replaces Bangladesh in Group C following security-related withdrawal. The ICC conducted extensive dialogue with Bangladesh Cricket Board before making the change. Scotland now faces West Indies, Italy, England, and Nepal at the original scheduled dates and venues, with only team assignments modified.
Teams Qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Twenty teams secured qualification through six distinct pathways. Italy achieved historic first-time qualification through Europe regional qualifiers, while Scotland entered via ICC T20I rankings before replacing Bangladesh in the tournament draw.
| Qualification Route | Teams |
|---|---|
| Host Nations | India, Sri Lanka |
| Top Finishers (2024) | Afghanistan, Australia, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies |
| ICC Rankings | New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, Scotland |
| Regional Qualifiers | Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, UAE |
Historic First-Time Qualification
Italy becomes the first team from continental Europe to qualify for a men’s T20 World Cup. Their qualification through the Europe regional pathway marks expansion beyond traditional cricket regions, providing European cricket development with global tournament exposure.
Replacement Update
Scotland secured their Group C position after Bangladesh withdrew citing security concerns. The ICC commissioned independent security assessments finding no credible threats, but Bangladesh Cricket Board declined to travel to India. Scotland accepted the invitation, maintaining the tournament’s 20-team structure.
Global Representation
The field spans six continents with teams from Europe, Asia, Africa, Americas, and Oceania. Regional qualifiers provided pathways for Associate nations including Nepal, Oman, UAE, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. This distribution reflects ICC’s development initiatives across emerging cricket markets beyond Full Member nations.
Conclusion:
The icc t20 world cup 2026 schedule delivers 55 matches across 30 days with structured phases from group stages through knockouts. Recent updates incorporate Scotland’s replacement of Bangladesh while maintaining original fixture dates and venues across both host nations.
- Tournament Start & End Dates
February 7 opening match between Pakistan and Netherlands at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo. Tournament concludes March 8 with the final scheduled at either Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad or R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo at 7:00 PM local time.
- Total Matches & Teams
Fifty-five matches feature 20 qualified teams across four groups. Each team plays minimum four group matches, with qualified sides progressing to Super 8 rounds for six additional fixtures before potential semi-final and final appearances.
- Key High-Voltage Fixtures
India versus Pakistan on February 15 at R. Premadasa Stadium represents the tournament’s marquee group-stage clash. Defending champions India open against USA on February 7 at Wankhede Stadium. Scotland faces four Group C opponents including England and West Indies after replacing Bangladesh.
- Why This Edition Matters?
First 20-team T20 World Cup expands Associate nation participation. Italy’s debut qualification marks European cricket milestone. Joint hosting between India and Sri Lanka distributes matches across seven venues, creating largest logistical operation in tournament history.
About the Author
