The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed the venues for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be staged in England from 12 June to 5 July.
This eagerly anticipated tournament, which marks the 10th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, promises to be a landmark event for the sport.
In a special launch event held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on May 1, it was announced that seven historic venues will host matches across the 24-day competition. The final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be played at Lord’s on 5 July, offering a fitting stage for the tournament’s dramatic conclusion.
The other venues include Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Old Trafford, Hampshire Bowl, and Bristol County Ground—each bringing its own unique history and energy to the global event. The tournament will feature 33 matches and a record-breaking 12-team format, making it the largest Women’s T20 World Cup to date.
The ICC confirmed that eight teams—hosts England, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies—have already qualified. Four additional teams will earn their spots through a global qualifier scheduled for next year.
The format will include two groups of six teams each, with the top teams advancing to the knockout stages and ultimately the final at Lord’s. ICC Chair Jay Shah emphasized the tournament’s importance, calling it “a defining moment” that will showcase the world’s best players and the continuing rise of women’s cricket on the global stage.
“The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will not only highlight world-class cricketing talent,” Shah said, “but also serve as a powerful lead-in to cricket’s return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.”
Richard Gould, Chief Executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), echoed the excitement, saying, “This will be the biggest women’s cricket event ever staged in England. Hosting the World Cup final at Lord’s is the dream of every cricketer, and this moment will inspire a new generation of fans.”
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be a historic celebration of talent, diversity, and sporting excellence on one of the world’s grandest cricketing stages.