The Road to 2026: ICC Unveils Full Schedule for T20 World Cup Co-Hosted by Sri Lanka and India
Mumbai, India – November 25, 2025 (Lions Roar News)
The complete schedule for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was officially unveiled in Mumbai today, setting the stage for the 10th edition of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India. The championship, featuring 20 teams competing for the prestigious trophy, is scheduled to run from February 7th to March 8th, 2026.
The tournament structure will see the 20 qualifying teams divided into four groups, with the initial phase of the competition taking place across eight venues in the two co-host nations.
Co-Hosts and Tournament Structure
The 2026 World Cup marks a significant moment for both host nations, particularly Sri Lanka, which is eager to showcase its facilities and cricketing passion on the global stage.
- Tournament Dates: February 7th to March 8th, 2026.
- Total Teams: 20 teams competing in 4 groups of five.
- Structure: Group Stage $\rightarrow$ Super Eight $\rightarrow$ Semi-Finals $\rightarrow$ Final.
Host Venues
The tournament will be spread across eight world-class stadiums in the two countries:
| Host Nation | Venues |
| Sri Lanka (3) | R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Sinhalese Sports Club Ground (SSC, Colombo), Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy) |
| India (5) | Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi), Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad) |
The tournament will kick off on February 7th, with three high-octane matches scheduled for the opening day.
The 20 Participating Teams and Groups
The 20 qualifying teams have been allocated to the four groups as follows:
| Group | Teams |
| Group A | India (Co-Host), Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia |
| Group B | Australia, Sri Lanka (Co-Host), Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman |
| Group C | England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal |
| Group D | South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE |
Sri Lanka’s Campaign and Key Fixtures
The Sri Lankan national team, placed in Group B, will have the advantage of playing the majority of their preliminary matches on home soil.
| Date | Time | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue |
| 08 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | Sri Lanka | Ireland | Premadasa, Colombo |
| 12 Feb 2026 | 11:00 AM | Sri Lanka | Oman | Kandy |
| 16 Feb 2026 | 7:00 PM | Australia | Sri Lanka | Kandy |
| 19 Feb 2026 | 3:00 PM | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | Premadasa, Colombo |
The Marquee Match: India vs. Pakistan
The highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan group stage match is scheduled for February 15th at 7:00 PM at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The neutral venue decision reflects the need to stage this high-profile fixture outside of the two primary host nations’ home cities.
Full Group Stage Fixtures
| 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 |
(The remainder of the schedule from February 21st onwards covers the Super Eight and Knockout stages, with teams X1-X4 and Y1-Y4 representing the Super Eight qualifiers from Groups A, B, C, and D.)
Knockout Stages
The Semi-Finals and Final will determine the 2026 T20 World Champion:
| Date | Time | Stage | Venue Options |
| 04 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | Semi-Final 1 (SF1) | Kolkata or Premadasa, Colombo |
| 05 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | Semi-Final 2 (SF2) | Mumbai |
| 08 Mar 2026 | 7:00 PM | FINAL | Ahmedabad or Premadasa, Colombo |
The use of the R. Premadasa Stadium as an alternate venue for a Semi-Final and the Final further highlights Sri Lanka’s crucial role in the co-hosting arrangement, particularly if Pakistan progresses to the later stages of the tournament.
