T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: Full Match List, Dates, Venues & Groups

The wait is finally over, cricket fans! The ICC has released the complete T20 World Cup 2026 schedule, and honestly, it's everything we've been dreaming about. From February 7 to March 8, India and Sri Lanka will co-host the tenth edition of this global spectacle, bringing us 55 matches of pure T20 madness. With blockbuster clashes like India versus Pakistan already scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, tickets are selling like crazy and the excitement is off the charts. Whether you're planning stadium visits or clearing your calendar for late-night viewing sessions, this comprehensive guide has every single detail you need about dates, venues, groups and what promises to be an absolutely unforgettable month of cricket.

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW AND LATEST UPDATES

The T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7 with defending champions India facing the USA at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium. Twenty teams will battle across eight venues - five in India and three in Sri Lanka - making this one of the most geographically diverse tournaments we've seen in recent years.

Here's something nobody saw coming though. Just days before the tournament, Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland after refusing to play their matches in India due to security concerns. This happened following the diplomatic tensions that arose after BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad in early January. The ICC gave Bangladesh a 24-hour deadline to confirm their participation, and when they didn't budge, Scotland got the call-up as the highest-ranked T20I team that hadn't originally qualified.

Scotland will now compete in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and debutants Italy. This marks the first T20 World Cup edition without Bangladesh since the tournament began in 2007.

The tournament format remains unchanged from 2024. We'll have a group stage from February 7-20, followed by a Super Eight phase from February 21 to March 1. The two semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 and 5, with the grand finale on March 8.

TOURNAMENT GROUPS AND TEAM COMPOSITION

The twenty participating teams have been divided into four groups of five teams each. The ICC strategically placed the top eight ranked teams evenly across groups to ensure competitive balance.

GROUP A India, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia, USA

This is arguably the group of death. India and Pakistan in the same group means we're guaranteed at least one epic rivalry clash. The USA will be looking to prove they belong on this stage after co-hosting the 2024 edition, while Netherlands has always been that team that can upset anyone on their day. Namibia rounds out the group as underdogs who've shown flashes of brilliance in previous tournaments.

GROUP B Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman

The co-hosts Sri Lanka will play all their group matches on home soil, which gives them a massive advantage. Australia, as always, comes in as one of the favorites despite their recent struggles in T20Is. Zimbabwe's been improving steadily, Ireland always brings fight and passion, and Oman gets their chance to shine on the big stage.

GROUP C England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, Italy

This group just got way more interesting with Scotland replacing Bangladesh. England and West Indies are both two-time champions, so this group has serious pedigree. Scotland's unexpected inclusion gives them a golden opportunity, Nepal continues their inspiring cricket journey, and Italy makes their T20 World Cup debut - how cool is that?

GROUP D South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE, Canada

South Africa and New Zealand are perennial contenders who somehow never seem to win the big one. Afghanistan has evolved into a genuine threat with their spin arsenal, and UAE plus Canada will be hungry to prove themselves against these established teams.

COMPLETE MATCH SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

GROUP STAGE MATCHES (February 7-20, 2026)

The tournament explodes into action with multiple matches scheduled daily. Here's how the opening week shapes up:

FEBRUARY 7 Netherlands vs Pakistan - Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy Scotland vs West Indies - Eden Gardens, Kolkata India vs USA - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

What a way to start! Pakistan opens against Netherlands in Kandy, Scotland begins their unexpected World Cup journey against West Indies in Kolkata, and defending champions India face USA in Mumbai. Three matches in one day across two countries. This is T20 World Cup cricket at its finest.

FEBRUARY 8 Afghanistan vs New Zealand - M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai England vs Nepal - Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Afghanistan's spinners against New Zealand's aggressive batting in Chennai will be fascinating. England takes on Nepal in what should be a mismatch on paper, but we all know T20 cricket doesn't care about paper.

FEBRUARY 9 Sri Lanka vs Ireland - R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Scotland vs Italy - Eden Gardens, Kolkata Oman vs Zimbabwe - Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Sri Lanka plays their opener at home against Ireland. The Premadasa Stadium will be rocking. Scotland gets another match in Kolkata against debutants Italy, while Oman and Zimbabwe clash in Kandy.

FEBRUARY 10 Canada vs South Africa - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Namibia vs Netherlands - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Canada faces the Proteas in Ahmedabad's massive stadium. Namibia and Netherlands battle it out in Mumbai.

FEBRUARY 11 New Zealand vs UAE - Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Pakistan vs USA - R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

New Zealand shifts to Delhi to face UAE. Pakistan plays their second match against USA in Colombo, as per the agreement that all Pakistan matches must be played in Sri Lanka.

FEBRUARY 12 Afghanistan vs South Africa - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Australia vs Ireland - Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo

Two massive matches. Afghanistan's spin against South Africa's power hitting in Ahmedabad could be electric. Australia plays in Colombo against Ireland.

FEBRUARY 13 England vs West Indies - Eden Gardens, Kolkata Sri Lanka vs Oman - R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

The battle of former champions! England versus West Indies is always box office. Sri Lanka continues their home campaign against Oman.

FEBRUARY 14 Italy vs Nepal - M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai India vs Namibia - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Australia vs Zimbabwe - Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Valentine's Day brings us three more contests including India taking on Namibia at the world's largest cricket stadium.

FEBRUARY 15 Canada vs UAE - Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Netherlands vs USA - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Ireland vs Oman - Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo INDIA VS PAKISTAN - R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (7:00 PM IST)

This is the day every cricket fan has circled on their calendar. India versus Pakistan at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The mother of all rivalries. Streets will be empty. Offices will be deserted. The entire subcontinent will be glued to screens. With Pakistan forced to play all matches in Sri Lanka due to the India-Pakistan agreement, this neutral venue setting adds even more spice to an already explosive fixture.

FEBRUARY 16 England vs Scotland - Eden Gardens, Kolkata New Zealand vs South Africa - M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

England faces Scotland in a battle of British cricket rivals. New Zealand and South Africa go head-to-head in Chennai.

FEBRUARY 17 West Indies vs Nepal - Eden Gardens, Kolkata Australia vs Sri Lanka - R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Italy vs Scotland - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

West Indies battles Nepal, hosts Sri Lanka take on Australia in what could decide the group, and Italy plays Scotland.

FEBRUARY 18 Afghanistan vs UAE - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad India vs Netherlands - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (evening match)

India plays their third group match against Netherlands at the massive Motera stadium in Ahmedabad.

FEBRUARY 19 Canada vs New Zealand - M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Zimbabwe vs Ireland - Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy Pakistan vs Namibia - R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

The group stage starts wrapping up with crucial matches that could determine who advances.

FEBRUARY 20 Oman vs Australia - Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo USA vs Namibia - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai South Africa vs UAE - Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Nepal vs West Indies - Eden Gardens, Kolkata Pakistan vs Netherlands - R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Five matches on the final day of the group stage! Everything comes down to these games for several teams fighting for Super Eight spots.

SUPER EIGHT STAGE (February 21 - March 1, 2026)

The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Eight, where they'll be split into two groups of four teams each. No points carry forward - it's a complete reset.

The ICC has pre-seeded eight teams based on T20I rankings: Australia, India, South Africa and West Indies in Super Eight Group 1; England, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Super Eight Group 2. If an unseeded team qualifies ahead of a seeded team, they'll take that seeded team's predetermined spot.

Each team plays the other three in their Super Eight group once, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. These matches will be played across the same eight venues from February 21 to March 1.

KNOCKOUT STAGE

SEMI-FINAL 1 - March 4 Eden Gardens, Kolkata (unless Pakistan qualifies, then R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)

SEMI-FINAL 2 - March 5 Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

FINAL - March 8 Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (unless Pakistan qualifies, then R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)

The final is scheduled for the world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, with a capacity exceeding 132,000. Imagine that atmosphere! However, if Pakistan makes it to the final, the match will be shifted to Colombo's Premadasa Stadium as per the BCCI-PCB agreement.

VENUES AND PITCH CONDITIONS

INDIA VENUES

NARENDRA MODI STADIUM, AHMEDABAD Capacity - 132,000 The biggest cricket stadium on planet Earth. Pitches here typically offer something for both batters and bowlers early on, then slow down as matches progress. Dew will be a massive factor in evening games. Chasing teams have had success here in T20s.

WANKHEDE STADIUM, MUMBAI Capacity - 33,108 The spiritual home of Indian cricket. This ground has witnessed countless historic moments. Expect batting-friendly conditions with true bounce. The sea breeze can assist swing bowlers in the first few overs. Mumbai's humidity means dew will play a part.

EDEN GARDENS, KOLKATA Capacity - 66,000 The iconic Kolkata cauldron. Known for slow, turning pitches that favor spinners. The crowd here is absolutely electric - they know their cricket and create an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams. Evening dew can neutralize spin in the second innings.

M.A. CHIDAMBARAM STADIUM, CHENNAI Capacity - 50,000 Chennai's spin paradise. This venue has always been a graveyard for teams that can't play quality spin bowling. The pitch gets slower and lower as the game progresses. Toss becomes crucial here.

ARUN JAITLEY STADIUM, DELHI Capacity - 41,820 Delhi's modern fortress. Pitches offer good pace and bounce, making it attractive for fast bowlers and batsmen alike. Can get very cold in February evenings, affecting dew formation. Batting first or second both viable options.

SRI LANKA VENUES

R. PREMADASA STADIUM, COLOMBO Capacity - 35,000 Pakistan's home for the tournament and venue for the India-Pakistan blockbuster. This ground has decent batting conditions but spinners come into play as the pitch wears. The Colombo crowd creates fantastic atmosphere. Will host multiple high-stakes matches.

SINHALESE SPORTS CLUB (SSC), COLOMBO Capacity - 6,000 The smaller, more intimate venue in Colombo. Known for traditional cricket settings. Pitches here can be slow and low, favoring clever bowlers over pure pace.

PALLEKELE CRICKET STADIUM, KANDY Capacity - 35,000 Set in the hills, Pallekele offers picturesque views and challenging conditions. The pitch can be two-paced, making stroke-making difficult. Rain is always a threat in Kandy, so DLS method knowledge becomes important.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

INDIA Rohit Sharma has been named the tournament brand ambassador and leads India's campaign as captain. His opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal or Abhishek Sharma will set the tone. Suryakumar Yadav continues as the world's most destructive T20 batter. With the ball, Jasprit Bumrah remains cricket's most valuable death bowler, while Varun Chakravarthy's mystery spin could be the x-factor. Hardik Pandya's all-round abilities give India incredible balance.

PAKISTAN Despite not having Haris Rauf in their squad, Pakistan still packs punch. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan form one of T20 cricket's most consistent opening pairs. Saim Ayub has emerged as a genuine talent. Their bowling attack featuring Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Nawaz can dismantle any lineup on their day. Playing all matches in Sri Lanka might actually suit their style.

ENGLAND The 2022 champions come with serious firepower. Jos Buttler leads a squad that plays fearless cricket. Phil Salt and Will Jacks can destroy bowling attacks inside the powerplay. Jofra Archer's return to international cricket adds serious pace. Adil Rashid remains one of the world's craftiest leg-spinners. Don't sleep on England - they know how to peak for ICC events.

AUSTRALIA The 2021 winners have been rebuilding but still dangerous. Travis Head's explosiveness at the top, Glenn Maxwell's match-winning abilities and Marcus Stoinis's power make them formidable. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins bring experience. Australia traditionally saves their best for World Cups.

WEST INDIES Under Shai Hope's leadership, West Indies has recalled Jason Holder. Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell provide explosive batting. Their T20 pedigree with two titles means they can never be written off. They play Scotland in the tournament opener - a must-win for confidence.

SOUTH AFRICA The perennial chokers tag haunts them, but this South African team has talent. Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and David Miller form a powerful top and middle order. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are world-class quicks. Can they finally get over the line in a knockout game?

NEW ZEALAND The Black Caps keep reaching finals but can't seem to win. Kane Williamson's calm leadership, Devon Conway's consistency and Trent Boult's swing bowling make them contenders. They face Afghanistan in their opener - a tricky start.

SCOTLAND The surprise entrants! Richie Berrington leads a team that's retained 11 players from their 2024 squad. They've upset big teams before - ask Bangladesh and West Indies about 2022. George Munsey and Michael Jones can bat, while Brad Currie and Mark Watt provide bowling variety. Playing without pressure could actually work in their favor.

WEATHER AND CONDITIONS FORECAST

February-March is generally excellent cricket weather in the subcontinent. India's venues should have clear, warm conditions with temperatures ranging from 20-30 degrees Celsius. Dew will be a significant factor in all evening matches across Indian venues, making captains think hard at the toss.

Sri Lanka in February-March can see occasional rain, especially in Kandy given its hill location. Colombo should be relatively dry but humid. Temperature ranges from 25-32 degrees Celsius. The humidity can make fielding challenging and affect bowlers' grip.

Teams need to prepare for different conditions across venues. The dry Delhi air versus Mumbai's sea breeze versus Chennai's heat versus Colombo's humidity - it's a proper test of adaptability.

MATCH PREDICTIONS AND EXPERT OPINIONS

GROUP STAGE PREDICTIONS

GROUP A - India and Pakistan should advance comfortably despite USA and Netherlands being capable of upsets. Namibia might struggle.

GROUP B - Australia and Sri Lanka look like the favorites, but don't rule out Zimbabwe who've been improving. Ireland could surprise.

GROUP C - England and West Indies have experience and talent. Scotland's late entry makes predictions difficult. Nepal and Italy face tough challenges.

GROUP D - South Africa and New Zealand should progress, but Afghanistan's spin attack could cause problems for everyone. Canada and UAE are outsiders.

TOURNAMENT FAVORITES

India - Playing at home, defending champions, strongest squad depth. The pressure is immense but they have everything needed to win.

England - Proven winners who play modern T20 cricket. Their fearless approach makes them dangerous.

Australia - Never write off the Aussies in World Cups. They have habit of peaking when it matters.

Pakistan - Unpredictable as always. Can beat anyone on their day or lose to anyone. Their all-Sri Lanka schedule might suit them.

DARK HORSES

West Indies - Two-time champions with explosive players. Could surprise everyone.

South Africa - If they overcome their mental block, the talent is undeniable.

Afghanistan - Their spin attack in subcontinent conditions is genuinely threatening.

FANTASY CRICKET TIPS

SAFE CAPTAIN PICKS Rohit Sharma (India) - Consistent, plays big innings, captaincy responsibility adds motivation Babar Azam (Pakistan) - Mr. Reliable, rarely fails Jos Buttler (England) - Explosive keeper-batter who can change games Jasprit Bumrah (India) - Death bowling specialist, consistent wicket-taker

SAFE VICE-CAPTAIN PICKS Suryakumar Yadav (India) - Strike rate monster Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) - Opening keeper, almost guaranteed points Travis Head (Australia) - Powerplay destroyer Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) - Wickets and economy guaranteed

MUST-HAVE PLAYERS Hardik Pandya (India) - All-rounder provides batting and bowling points Nicholas Pooran (West Indies) - Explosive middle-order dynamo Glenn Maxwell (Australia) - Match-winner with bat and ball Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) - Powerplay wicket-taker

RISKY DIFFERENTIAL PICKS Richie Berrington (Scotland) - Captain, might fly under radar, great value Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) - Home conditions, leg-spin mystery Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) - All-rounder capable of big hauls George Munsey (Scotland) - Aggressive opener, could score big when overlooked

SMALL LEAGUE STRATEGY Stack your team with players from India, Pakistan, England and Australia. These are popular picks but perform consistently. Go for safe captains like Rohit or Babar. Pick established all-rounders and wicket-taking bowlers. Don't take unnecessary risks.

GRAND LEAGUE STRATEGY Here's where you differentiate. Pick 2-3 differential players who have low ownership but high upside. Afghanistan spinners, Scotland batters, and West Indies power-hitters are good options. Consider captaining someone like Travis Head or Suryakumar Yadav instead of obvious choices. Target matches where strong teams face weaker opponents for massive hauls.

VENUE-SPECIFIC TIPS Chennai - Load up on spinners (Varun Chakravarthy, Rashid Khan, Adil Rashid) Mumbai/Ahmedabad - Prefer batsmen on batting-friendly tracks Colombo - Balance between spinners and pace Kandy - Slower bowlers and accumulator batsmen

PHASE-BY-PHASE APPROACH Group Stage - Mix of favorites and underdogs Super Eight - Heavily favor qualified teams, they'll be motivated Knockouts - All star-studded teams, go big or go home

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When does the T20 World Cup 2026 start and where can I watch it?

The T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7, 2026, with matches starting at 2:00 PM IST. The tournament runs through March 8. In India, you can watch all matches live on Star Sports network channels including Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, and regional language channels. Disney+ Hotstar will stream all matches live online. International viewers should check their local broadcasters - Sky Sports in UK, Willow TV and ESPN+ in USA, Fox Sports in Australia, and respective broadcast partners in other countries.

Why is Pakistan playing all their matches in Sri Lanka instead of India?

Following a December 2024 agreement between the BCCI and PCB, any matches involving India and Pakistan at ICC events hosted by either country during 2024-2027 will be played at neutral venues. Since India is co-hosting this tournament, all of Pakistan's matches must be played in Sri Lanka. This arrangement extends to knockout stages too - if Pakistan qualifies for semi-finals or final, those matches will be held at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo instead of the original Indian venues.

What happened to Bangladesh and why is Scotland in the tournament?

Bangladesh was originally in Group C but was replaced by Scotland after refusing to play their scheduled matches in India. This decision came following diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh, particularly after BCCI instructed KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026. The ICC conducted independent security assessments which found no credible threats, but Bangladesh government didn't allow their team to travel to India. After missing the ICC's deadline to confirm participation, Scotland was brought in as the highest-ranked T20I team that hadn't originally qualified.

How does the Super Eight stage work and which teams are seeded?

The top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the Super Eight stage, where they're divided into two groups of four teams each. No points from the group stage carry forward - it's a fresh start. The ICC has pre-seeded eight teams based on T20I rankings: Super Eight Group 1 will have Australia, India, South Africa and West Indies; Super Eight Group 2 will have England, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. If an unseeded team qualifies instead of a seeded one, they take that seeded team's predetermined position. Each team plays the other three in their Super Eight group once, with top two advancing to semi-finals.

What is the ticket price range for T20 World Cup 2026 matches?

Ticket prices vary significantly based on venue and match importance. In India, entry-level tickets start from Rs 100 for group stage matches at some venues, while premium seats for high-profile games like India vs Pakistan can go up to Rs 10,000 or higher. In Sri Lanka, tickets start from LKR 1000 (approximately Rs 250). Semi-finals and final tickets are priced higher. Tickets are available through the official ICC portal, and in India also through Paytm, BookMyShow and Insider. For Sri Lanka matches, SLC's official ticketing partners handle sales. Stadium box offices also sell tickets offline in major cities.

Which venue will host the T20 World Cup 2026 final?

The final is scheduled for March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which is the world's largest cricket stadium with capacity exceeding 132,000. However, there's an important conditional - if Pakistan qualifies for the final, the match will be relocated to R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as per the BCCI-PCB neutral venue agreement. This applies to semi-finals as well. The first semi-final on March 4 is scheduled for Eden Gardens in Kolkata but will move to Colombo if Pakistan qualifies for it.

How many matches will each team play in the group stage?

Each team plays exactly four matches in the group stage - one against each of the other four teams in their group in a single round-robin format. This means 20 teams playing 4 matches each equals 40 group stage matches (since each match involves two teams, that's 40 matches total in the group stage). The tournament then continues with 16 Super Eight matches, 2 semi-finals and 1 final, totaling 55 matches across the entire T20 World Cup 2026.

CONCLUSION

Cricket fans, we're just days away from the biggest T20 carnival of 2026! From the opening match on February 7 to the final on March 8, we're in for absolute magic. The India versus Pakistan clash on February 15 will stop the world, but honestly, this tournament has so many storylines beyond just that one match.

Scotland's fairy-tale entry, Italy's debut, Bangladesh's controversial absence, Australia and England defending their legacies, India's home pressure, Pakistan's all-away challenge, West Indies' nostalgia tour - every team has a compelling narrative.

The venues spanning two countries, the different pitch conditions, the knockout drama ahead - this is why we love cricket. Twenty teams will compete, but only one will lift that trophy on March 8. Whether you're supporting the favorites or rooting for underdogs, whether you're watching from packed stadiums or your living room screens, this T20 World Cup 2026 promises memories that'll last a lifetime.

Mark your calendars, set your alarms for those early morning and late night matches, prepare your fantasy teams, and get ready for a month of pure cricketing ecstasy. The countdown has begun. Let the games begin!