The ICC announced the fixtures for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set to be held in India and Sri Lanka on Tuesday, 25 November 2025.
The tournament is set to begin on 7 February 2026 with the final expected to be at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad (or at Colombo if Pakistan were to qualify) on 8 March. Each side is guaranteed to play four fixtures in the group with the top two teams out of five qualifying for the super 8 stage.
Italy are all set to play in their first Men's World Cup after their historic qualification. There are no easy games in a World Cup, the statement might be particularly true for the Italians who find themselves in Group C joined by England, Bangladesh, West Indies and the winners of the joint Asia-Eastern Asian Pacific Qualifiers, Nepal.
The Italian side will aim to shock a few sides over the course of the tournament. They begin their historic campaign with a game against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens.
9 February 2026 - Bangladesh vs Italy, Kolkata
12 February 2026 - Italy vs Nepal, Mumbai
16 February 2026 - England vs Italy, Kolkata
19 February 2026 - Italy vs West Indies, Kolkata
Ireland will be up against co-hosts Sri Lanka in the first game at Colombo (RPS) and are joined by Australia, Oman, Zimbabwe in Group B. The Irish will play all their games in Sri Lanka.
8 February 2026 - Sri Lanka vs Ireland, Colombo (RPS)
11 February 2026 - Australia vs Ireland, Colombo (RPS)
14 February 2026 - Ireland vs Oman, Colombo (SSC)
17 February 2026 - Ireland vs Zimbabwe, Kandy
The Netherlands will play the first match of the tournament facing Pakistan at Colombo (SSC), the Dutch are joined by hosts co-hosts India, whom they will face at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad which has a capacity of 132,000 people, the Group A also consists of Namibia and the USA.
7 February 2026 - Pakistan vs Netherlands, Colombo (SSC)
10 February 2026 - Netherlands vs Namibia, Delhi
13 February 2026 - USA vs Netherlands, Chennai
18 February 2026 - India vs Netherlands, Ahmedabad
Mr Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, said:
“It is wonderful to welcome the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup back to the subcontinent so soon after a groundbreaking Women’s Cricket World Cup. The passion for cricket in this region is unmatched, and fans have been waiting eagerly for another global spectacle. The announcement of the fixtures brings us a step closer, and I have no doubt that the five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka will be alive with energy throughout the tournament.
“The T20 format continues to drive the sport’s global expansion and will be showcased at the LA Olympics in 2028. With that in mind, the 2026 edition will capture the imagination of millions. One can already picture the electric atmosphere at the Narendra Modi Stadium when the champions lift the trophy on 8 March.”
