Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, this edition promises a packed calendar of action, running from 7 February to 8 March 2026. Across eight cities and 55 planned matches, fans will witness a blend of high-voltage rivalries, emerging talent and tactical cricket at its finest.
India’s Schedule & Aspirations
Defending champions India will begin their campaign against the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 7 February.Under a fresh leadership group following retirements of some stalwarts, India aim to make history by becoming the first host team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups.
The group stage will see India compete in four matches, each crucial for gaining momentum heading toward the Super Eights.
Warm-Up Matches & Build-Up
Before the main event, teams sharpened their skills in a series of pre-tournament warm-ups across India and Sri Lanka. These fixtures offered crucial game time and allowed squads to finalize combinations ahead of the competitive schedule.A highlight in the build-up has been England’s dominant spin performance in a warm-up series against Sri Lanka, signaling their adaptability to subcontinental conditions.
Tournament Timeline & Match Fixtures - ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 runs from 7 February to 8 March 2026, featuring 55 matches staged across eight iconic cricket venues in India and Sri Lanka. The global event unfolds in three main phases - Group Stage, Super Eight, and Knockout Rounds - designed to balance competitive opportunity with maximum excitement for fans.🏆 Tournament Format Explained
1️⃣ Group Stage - 7 Feb to 20 Feb
- 20 teams are divided into four groups of five.
- Each team plays every other side in its group once (round-robin).
- The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Eights.
- This phase includes 40 matches in total.
2️⃣ Super Eight Stage - 21 Feb to 28 Feb
- The eight qualifying teams are split into two Super 8 groups.
- Teams play within their Super group with no carry-over points from the group stage.
- The best two from each Super Eight group proceed to the semifinals.
3️⃣ Knockout Rounds - 4–8 Mar
- The semi-finals are scheduled for 4 and 5 March, followed by the Grand Final on 8 March.
- The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the final, with Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium set as the alternative if Pakistan reach the title match.
🏟 Hosts & Venues — Where the Action Unfolds
The T20 World Cup is spread across eight venues, combining capacity and iconic status:- India: Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi), M.A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai)
- Sri Lanka: R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Sinhalese Sports Club Ground (Colombo), Pallekele International Stadium (Kandy)
Full Group Stage Fixtures: Dates & Venues
Below is the complete list of group matches confirmed so far in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Teams will compete to secure points in their respective groups to advance:Group A (India / Sri Lanka Hosts)
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | Pakistan vs Netherlands | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| 7 Feb | India vs USA | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 10 Feb | Netherlands vs Namibia | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| 10 Feb | Pakistan vs USA | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| 12 Feb | India vs Namibia | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| 15 Feb | India vs Pakistan | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (status uncertain) |
| 18 Feb | India vs Netherlands | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 18 Feb | Pakistan vs Namibia | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
Group B
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb | Sri Lanka vs Ireland | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| 9 Feb | Zimbabwe vs Oman | SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo |
| 11 Feb | Australia vs Ireland | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| 12 Feb | Sri Lanka vs Oman | Pallekele Stadium, Kandy |
| 13 Feb | (CAN vs UAE)* | Delhi |
| 14 Feb | Ireland vs Oman | SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo |
| 19 Feb | Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| 16 Feb | Australia vs Sri Lanka | Pallekele Stadium, Kandy |
Group C
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | West Indies vs Scotland | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 8 Feb | England vs Nepal | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 9 Feb | Scotland vs Italy | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Dates | England vs Bangladesh | Kolkata |
| Dates | West Indies vs Bangladesh | venue pending |
| 16 Feb | England vs Italy | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
Group D
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb | New Zealand vs Afghanistan | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 9 Feb | South Africa vs Canada | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 10 Feb | New Zealand vs UAE | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 11 Feb | South Africa vs Afghanistan | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 17 Feb | New Zealand vs Canada | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 17 Feb | Ireland vs Zimbabwe | Pallekele Stadium, Kandy |
- Opening Day (7 Feb) sees the tournament begin in Colombo, Mumbai and Kolkata — a multi-venue launch befitting cricket’s global showcase.
- India’s title defence begins against the USA in Mumbai, while Pakistan’s opening game against Netherlands is in Colombo.
- Underscore matches like India vs Pakistan (15 Feb) provide not just sporting thrill but huge global viewership - though political factors could impact this fixture.
Super Eight & Knockout Phase — Fixtures, Dates & Venues (ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026)
After a thrilling Group Stage that wraps up on 20 February, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 shifts into its second and most decisive phase: the Super Eight round. Eight teams — the top two from each of the four groups — advance into the next stage, where competition intensifies, margins shrink, and every game has a direct bearing on progression to the semifinals.Super Eight Stage (21 February – 1 March 2026)
After teams finish the Group Stage (7–20 Feb), the top two from each of the four groups will move into the Super Eight round - a second round-robin phase split into two pools of four. The matchups depend on final group standings and will be designated as X1, X2, X3, X4 (from one Super Eight pool) and Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 (from the other).The Super Eight stage will be played over nine key fixtures across five iconic venues in India and Sri Lanka. This round is designed to reward consistency and skill, as teams in two groups of four face each other in a round-robin format with no points carried over from the group phase.
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Feb | Y2 vs Y3 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| 22 Feb | Y1 vs Y4 | Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy |
| 22 Feb | X1 vs X4 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 23 Feb | X2 vs X3 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 24 Feb | Y1 vs Y3 | Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy |
| 25 Feb | Y2 vs Y4 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| 26 Feb | X3 vs X4 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 26 Feb | X1 vs X2 | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 27 Feb | Y1 vs Y2 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| 28 Feb | Y3 vs Y4 | Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy |
| 1 Mar | X2 vs X4 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| 1 Mar | X1 vs X3 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
- X1–X4 will be the qualifiers from Super Eight Group 1.
- Y1–Y4 will come from Super Eight Group 2.
- After all these matches, the top two teams from each Super Eight group will qualify for the semifinals.
The Super Eight matches will take place across India and Sri Lanka — from the spin-friendly pitches of Colombo and Kandy to the large capacity stadiums in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, offering a wide range of playing conditions that test batting depth, bowling variety, and tactical acumen.
🏆 Knockout Stage – Semifinals & Final
With the Super Eight stage concluding on 1 March, the tournament advances into the traditional knockout rounds — where every match is win-or-go-home. The top two teams from each Super 8 group move straight into the semifinals, scheduled across two days: 4 and 5 March 2026.🥇 Semifinals
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 2026 | 1st Semi-Final - Super Eight Group 1 #1 vs Super Eight Group 2 #2 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata (if Pakistan not involved) |
| 4 Mar 2026 | Alternative: Kolkata or R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (if Pakistan involved) | (Venue shifts depending on qualifiers) |
| 5 Mar 2026 | 2nd Semi-Final - Super Eight Group 2 #1 vs Super Eight Group 1 #2 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
🏆 Final – 8 March 2026 (Ahmedabad)
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 2026 | Final – Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad / R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo* |
🔄 Alternate Venue: If Pakistan qualifies for the final, the ICC has pre-authorized the possibility of moving the championship match to R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, reflecting long-standing bilateral sensitivities between India and Pakistan.
What This Stage Means for Fans & Teams
The Super Eight round is widely seen as the true proving ground of tournament contenders — a mini-league where favourites can slip and dark horses can rise.Each semifinal and the final will attract global broadcasters and streaming attention, with viewers in cricket powerhouse nations riveted as teams chase T20 supremacy.
Political Undertones & Controversy
Just weeks before the tournament began, off-field developments threatened to overshadow on-field drama. Pakistan’s government reportedly barred its national side from playing against India in Colombo on 15 February, citing security concerns. If upheld, this decision could mark the first boycott of a high-profile clash in over a decade.The International Cricket Council (ICC) has criticized the move, warning of repercussions under participation agreements, while the debate continues among fans and former players.