The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to start in early February and will run until early March. With only 3 months left for this marquee T20 tournament, the ICC has started announcing its venues and schedule. Notably, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup and will aim to defend it in front of their crowd.
In November 2021, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that Sri Lanka will host the entire tournament. However, as the tournament expanded to 20 teams, ICC declared India as the co-host to fulfil the need for the stadium and infrastructure.
Matches between India and Pakistan will be hosted in Sri Lanka only, following an agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Venues For The ICC T20 World Cup 2026
India will host the majority of the matches in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, with five major venues shortlisted for the tournament. These cities are Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai. Each of these venues has been carefully selected to provide world-class facilities and accommodate large numbers of cricket fans.
| Country | City | Stadium Name |
|---|---|---|
| India | Ahmedabad | Narendra Modi Stadium |
| India | Mumbai | Wankhede Stadium |
| India | Chennai | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium |
| India | Delhi | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| India | Kolkata | Eden Gardens |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo | R. Premadasa Stadium |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground |
| Sri Lanka | Kandy | Pallekele International Stadium |
Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium and Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium will host the semi-final, if Pakistan don’t qualify. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is likely to host both the tournament opener and the final, being a premier cricket venue with maximum capacity.
If Pakistan or Sri Lanka reach the semifinals, their match will be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka, due to a neutral venue agreement between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, if neither team qualifies, both semifinals will be hosted in India.
Teams Qualified For the T20 World Cup 2026
The all 20 teams have been qualified for the T20 World Cup 2026, and Italy has qualified for the 1st time ever in the World Cup.
| No. | Team Name | Qualification Method |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | Host nation |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | Host nation |
| 3 | Afghanistan | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 4 | Australia | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 6 | England | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 7 | South Africa | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 8 | United States | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 9 | West Indies | 2024 T20 World Cup performance |
| 10 | Pakistan | ICC T20I ranking |
| 11 | New Zealand | ICC T20I ranking |
| 12 | Ireland | ICC T20I ranking |
| 13 | Canada | Americas Regional Qualifier |
| 14 | Netherlands | Europe Qualifier |
| 15 | Italy | Europe Qualifier (first-ever qualification) |
| 16 | Namibia | Africa Regional Qualifier |
| 17 | Zimbabwe | Africa Regional Qualifier |
| 18 | Nepal | Asia–EAP Qualifier |
| 19 | Oman | Asia–EAP Qualifier |
| 20 | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | Asia–EAP Qualifier |
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Conclusion: India and Sri Lanka Will Host The T20 World Cup 2026
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Matches will take place in major Indian cities like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and Kolkata, while Sri Lanka will host key fixtures in Colombo and Kandy, including possible India-Pakistan games. Get ready for the exciting World Cup where Team India will host its title.
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