The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed that India and Sri Lanka will jointly host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled from February 7 to March 8, 2026.
The tournament will feature 20 teams, following the same group and knockout format as the 2024 edition.
The grand final is expected to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — unless Pakistan qualifies for the final, in which case the match will be shifted to Colombo, Sri Lanka, for security and diplomatic reasons.
📍 Host Venues Finalized
The 2026 World Cup will be spread across major cities in India and Sri Lanka.
Indian Host Cities:
- Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium)
- Delhi (Arun Jaitley Stadium)
- Kolkata (Eden Gardens)
- Chennai (MA Chidambaram Stadium)
- Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium)
Each Indian venue is expected to host at least six matches to ensure maximum fan engagement and operational efficiency.
Sri Lankan Venues:
- Colombo
- Kandy
- A third venue is yet to be confirmed (most likely Galle or Dambulla).
This joint hosting arrangement will provide a perfect mix of fan enthusiasm, cultural diversity, and modern cricketing infrastructure.
🇵🇰 Pakistan to Play in Sri Lanka
As per the agreement between the ICC, BCCI, and PCB, Pakistan’s entire campaign — including group and knockout matches — will be held exclusively in Sri Lanka.
This arrangement has been made due to political sensitivities and travel restrictions between India and Pakistan.
The much-awaited India vs Pakistan group stage match will also be played in Colombo, which is expected to be one of the most-watched matches in cricket history.
🚫 Notable Venue Exclusions
Some popular venues have been left out of the 2026 World Cup list.
- Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was excluded due to recent security concerns.
- Cities used in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup — such as Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Indore, and Navi Mumbai — have also not been included.
The ICC stated that the aim was to provide fans with a fresh experience and to ensure logistical stability by limiting excessive travel between cities.
Tournament Format
The tournament format will mirror the 2024 edition:
- 20 Teams, divided into 4 Groups of 5.
- The top teams advance to the Super Eight stage.
- Followed by Semi-Finals and then the Final.
India enters the tournament as the defending champion, having won the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup against South Africa. With home advantage this time, expectations from the Indian squad will be sky-high.
Qualified Teams
Teams automatically qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup:
- India (Host & Defending Champion)
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- England
- South Africa
- USA
- West Indies
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Ireland
The remaining nine spots will be filled through regional qualifiers, with Italy making a historic debut after qualifying for the first time — a major milestone for European cricket.
📅 Tournament Dates and Final
- Start Date: February 7, 2026
- Final: March 8, 2026
- Main Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- (If Pakistan reaches the final, the venue will shift to Colombo)
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💬 Conclusion
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cricket events in history.
With India and Sri Lanka joining forces, fans can expect a spectacular blend of Asian passion, world-class stadiums, and high-intensity cricket.
Indian fans will get the thrill of watching their champions defend the title on home soil, while Sri Lanka will host some of the tournament’s most dramatic clashes — especially Pakistan’s matches.
Cricket lovers worldwide are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling month of world-class action across two cricket-crazy nations.
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