ICC 2026 T20 World Cup Schedule - Full Fixtures, Group and Venue Details
The ICC has finally dropped the full schedule for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, and honestly, it feels like a proper cricket festival is coming our way. With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting the tournament, eight iconic venues, 20 teams, and a packed month of cricket, this edition looks bigger and sharper than anything we’ve seen before.
The tournament will run from 7 February to 8 March 2026, and the ICC has continued with the format that fans enjoyed last time — four groups of five, followed by the Super 8s, and then the knockouts. What makes this edition unique is how the schedule balances conditions across two countries: the dry, high-intensity surfaces of India and the spin-friendly, tropical flavour of Sri Lanka.
Rohit Sharma has also been officially appointed as the Ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and it honestly feels like the perfect choice. With his long history in the tournament — from winning the inaugural 2007 edition to lifting the trophy again as captain in 2024 — Rohit’s connection with T20 World Cups is unmatched.
Groups for the 2026 T20 World Cup
ICC has organised the 20 teams into four groups:
Group A : India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B : Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C : England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
Group D : South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Tournament Format
The structure is easy to follow:
- Group Stage: 7–20 February
- Super 8s: 21–28 February
- Semi-finals: 4 & 5 March
- Final: 8 March 2026
The top two teams from each group move into the Super 8s, and that’s where the tournament really kicks into gear.
Full Fixtures for Men's T20 World Cup 2026
Official schedule for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. All dates and times are subject to final confirmation by ICC.
| Date | Time | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | PAK | NED | SSC, Colombo |
| 07 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | WI | BAN | Kolkata |
| 07 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | IND | USA | Mumbai |
| 08 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | NZ | AFG | Chennai |
| 08 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | ENG | NEP | Mumbai |
| 08 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | SL | IRE | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 09 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | BAN | ITA | Kolkata |
| 09 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | ZIM | OMA | SSC, Colombo |
| 09 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | SA | CAN | Ahmedabad |
| 10 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | NED | NAM | Delhi |
| 10 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | NZ | UAE | Chennai |
| 10 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | PAK | USA | SSC, Colombo |
| 11 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | SA | AFG | Ahmedabad |
| 11 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | AUS | IRE | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 11 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | ENG | WI | Mumbai |
| 12 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | SL | OMA | Kandy |
| 12 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | NEP | ITA | Mumbai |
| 12 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | IND | NAM | Delhi |
| 13 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | AUS | ZIM | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 13 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | CAN | UAE | Delhi |
| 13 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | USA | NED | Chennai |
| 14 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | IRE | OMA | SSC, Colombo |
| 14 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | ENG | BAN | Kolkata |
| 14 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | NZ | SA | Ahmedabad |
| 15 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | WI | NEP | Mumbai |
| 15 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | USA | NAM | Chennai |
| 15 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | IND | PAK | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 16 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | AFG | UAE | Delhi |
| 16 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | ENG | ITA | Kolkata |
| 16 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | AUS | SL | Kandy |
| 17 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | NZ | CAN | Chennai |
| 17 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | IRE | ZIM | Kandy |
| 17 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | BAN | NEP | Mumbai |
| 18 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | SA | UAE | Delhi |
| 18 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | PAK | NAM | SSC, Colombo |
| 18 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | IND | NED | Ahmedabad |
| 19 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | WI | ITA | Kolkata |
| 19 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | SL | ZIM | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 19 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | AFG | CAN | Chennai |
| 20 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | AUS | OMA | Kandy |
| 21 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | Y2 | Y3 | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 22 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | Y1 | Y4 | Kandy |
| 22 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | X1 | X4 | Ahmedabad |
| 23 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | X2 | X3 | Mumbai |
| 24 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | Y1 | Y3 | Kandy |
| 25 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | Y2 | Y4 | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 26 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | X3 | X4 | Ahmedabad |
| 26 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | X1 | X2 | Chennai |
| 27 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | Y1 | Y2 | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 28 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | Y3 | Y4 | Kandy |
| 01 Mar 2026 | 3:00 PM | X2 | X4 | Delhi |
| 01 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | X1 | X3 | Kolkata |
| 04 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | SF1 | KO | Kolkata |
| 04 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | SF1 | KO | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 05 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | SF2 | KO | Mumbai |
| 08 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | FINAL | KO | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 08 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | FINAL | KO | Ahmedabad |
Host Nations & Venues
The World Cup will be played across 8 venues — five in India and three in Sri Lanka.
India
- Mumbai – Wankhede Stadium
- Kolkata – Eden Gardens
- Chennai – M.A. Chidambaram Stadium
- Delhi – Arun Jaitley Stadium
- Ahmedabad – Narendra Modi Stadium
Sri Lanka
- Colombo – R. Premadasa Stadium
- Colombo – SSC Ground
- Kandy – Pallekele Stadium
One interesting detail the ICC mentioned: Pakistan’s knockout matches will be scheduled in Sri Lanka due to current travel and bilateral restrictions. So if Pakistan reach the final, it’ll be held in Colombo.
Key Dates & Big Matches
The tournament opens on 7 February 2026, and from day one, the schedule throws up some spicy fixtures. Here are a few worth circling right now:
- India vs USA – 7 February, Mumbai
- England vs Nepal – 8 February, Mumbai
- Sri Lanka vs Ireland – 8 February, Colombo
- Bangladesh vs Italy – 9 February, Kolkata (Italy’s debut WC fixture)
- Pakistan vs USA – 10 February, Colombo
- South Africa vs Canada – 9 February, Ahmedabad
- India vs Pakistan – 15 February 2026, Colombo
This match being played in Sri Lanka adds a different kind of drama. A neutral venue, a packed crowd, and both teams loaded with T20 specialists — it’s guaranteed to be one of the most-watched sporting events of the year.
Implications for the Sub-Continent Countries
Co-hosting means India enjoys home-ground advantage for many matches — including major ones. That will raise pressure and expectations. The tournament also presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka to showcase their stadiums and cricketing culture to a global audience. For Anwaar’s readership, this means lots of chances to write venue-centric stories, fan experience pieces, and local narratives in addition to match reports.
Conclusion
The 2026 T20 World Cup is shaping up to be a major event: 20 teams, two host nations, high-stakes rivalries, and the possibility of history (India defending, first-time appearances). With the full schedule now released, the countdown is on. For content creators and fans alike, there’s plenty to look forward to — both on and off the pitch.
