Excitement is building rapidly as the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 gets underway on June 12, with the world’s best women’s cricket teams set to battle for the prestigious title. Hosted across England and Wales, the landmark tenth edition of the tournament is expected to deliver thrilling contests, packed stadiums, and unforgettable moments over the coming weeks.

Format and Teams

This year’s event marks a significant milestone in the competition’s history. For the first time, the Women’s T20 World Cup has been expanded to 12 teams, up from 10 teams in the previous edition in 2024. The expansion reflects the growing popularity and competitiveness of women’s cricket around the world, providing more nations with the opportunity to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.

The 12 participating teams have been split into two groups of six. During the group stage, each side will face every other team in its group once in a round-robin format. With only the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout stage, every match will carry enormous importance. The four qualifying teams will move directly into the semi-finals, with the winners then advancing to the grand final in pursuit of world cricket’s ultimate T20 prize.

A total of 33 matches will be played across 24 days, ensuring fans are treated to nearly a month of high-quality international cricket. Reigning champions New Zealand arrive in England determined to defend the title they captured in 2024, while traditional powerhouses Australia, England, and India are widely regarded as leading contenders for the crown. South Africa, runners-up in recent global tournaments, will also be eager to challenge for their first world title.

Groups

One of the biggest talking points of the tournament is the historic debut of the Netherlands. Their qualification represents another step forward for the growth of women’s cricket beyond the traditional strongholds, adding a fresh dimension to the competition. Scotland and Ireland will also be aiming to make a strong impression against some of the world’s elite teams.

Group A

• Australia
• India
• South Africa
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Ireland

Group B

• England (Hosts)
• New Zealand (Defending Champions)
• West Indies
• Sri Lanka
• Netherlands
• Scotland

Tournament Venues

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be staged across seven renowned cricket venues in England, each bringing its own history and atmosphere to the tournament. The opening match and ceremony will take place at Edgbaston in Birmingham, setting the stage for an exciting competition. Both semi-finals are scheduled to be held at The Oval in London, while the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground will host the final, where the next world champions will be crowned.

Other venues include Old Trafford in Manchester, Headingley in Leeds, the Rose Bowl in Southampton, and the County Ground in Bristol. Together, these stadiums will provide a fitting backdrop for what promises to be the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup ever staged.

Also READ: From Esa Guha to Dinesh Karthik: ICC unveils star-studded commentary panel for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

Fixtures of Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

Broadcast and Live Streaming details

• India: Star Sports, JioStar app and website
• Bangladesh: TSM
• Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives: Star Sports, JioStar app and website
• USA & Canada: Sling TV – Willow TV (sign up here)
• Caribbean Islands: ESPN Caribbean, ESPN on Disney +
• United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event
• Australia: Prime Video
• New Zealand: Sky TV NZ, Sky Go
• Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
• Pakistan: Myco, PTV Sports, Tamasha, ARY Zapp, Tapmad
• Hong Kong: PCCW, CricBuzz, icc.tv
• Malaysia: Astro, AstroGo, Sooka, CricBuzz, icc.tv
• Netherlands: NOS, NOS Player, icc.tv
• Sri Lanka: Dialog TV, Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, TV Supreme, Dialog Play
• Rest of the World: Icc.tv

Also READ: Nadine de Klerk highlights key strengths of South Africa’s batting group ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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