t20 world cup 2026: Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka
Introduction: Why the t20 world cup matters
The ICC Men’s t20 world cup is one of cricket’s premier global events, drawing intense fan interest, commercial investment and national pride. The 2026 edition is notable both for its scale — 55 matches across eight venues — and for off-field developments that could shape how future tournaments are staged. With hosts set as India and Sri Lanka, the competition carries sporting significance and logistical challenges that matter to players, boards and supporters worldwide.
Main body: Hosts, schedule and recent developments
Hosts and format
The 2026 tournament will be the 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup and is scheduled to run from 7 February to 8 March 2026, a 30-day competition. Matches will take place across eight venues, five in India and three in Sri Lanka, and the schedule includes a full complement of fixtures from opening group matches in early February through Super 8 games in March.
Fixtures and tournament structure
The published match listings begin on 7 February with multiple fixtures on 7–10 February and continue through the Super 8 phase, with Super 8 matches noted on 1 March. The 55-match format reflects the ICC’s expanded scheduling approach used in recent editions, designed to provide more international exposure and competitive balance among both full members and associate nations.
Security concerns and venue requests
Security issues have influenced participation arrangements. Pakistan has requested that all its World Cup matches be played in Sri Lanka rather than India, citing security concerns. This mirrors earlier ICC precedents for neutral hosting arrangements. Separately, Bangladesh was removed from the tournament after its cricket board, pointing to government security concerns about playing in India, asked for its matches to be relocated. These developments highlight how off-field factors can affect tournament logistics and team participation.
Recent champions and context
England secured their second T20 World Cup title in 2022, and India became a two-time champion with victory in 2024, joining West Indies and England among the competition’s most successful teams.
Conclusion: Significance and outlook
The 2026 t20 world cup will be a major sporting event with broader implications for how the ICC manages hosting, security and neutral-venue requests. With co-hosting across India and Sri Lanka and notable team-specific venue requests, the tournament could set precedents for flexible hosting arrangements in future editions, including those already scheduled for New Zealand (2028) and Ireland & Scotland (2030). For fans and boards, the focus will be on delivering a safe, competitive and widely accessible tournament.