Last Updated on September 28, 2026 by Maurya
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 gets underway on 12 June, and for the next 24 days, England becomes the centre of the cricketing universe. Twelve teams, 33 matches, seven iconic venues, and one trophy that every side desperately wants to lift at Lord’s on 5 July.
This is the tenth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, and in many ways, it feels like the biggest one yet. The tournament has expanded from ten teams to twelve for the first time. The prize money has gone up. The venues are the most famous grounds in the sport. And the storylines? They practically write themselves — New Zealand defending their maiden title, India arriving as ODI world champions hungry for T20 silverware, Australia rebuilding under a new captain, and hosts England chasing glory on home soil for the first time since 2009.
Whether you’re planning to follow every ball or just want to know when the big matches are, this guide covers everything — the full schedule breakdown, all twelve teams, the tournament format, key fixtures, and where to catch the action.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
- Dates: 12 June – 5 July 2026
- Host: England (matches across England, with warm-ups also held in Wales)
- Teams: 12 (expanded from 10 for the first time)
- Total matches: 33
- Venues: 7
- Defending champions: New Zealand
- Final: Lord’s, London – 5 July 2026
- Semi-finals: The Oval, London – 30 June and 2 July 2026
The Tournament Format Explained
The format is refreshingly simple. The twelve teams are split into two groups of six. Each side plays the other five teams in its group once, which means 30 group-stage matches between 12 and 28 June.
The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, both of which will be staged at the Kennington Oval in London. The winners of those two knockout clashes meet in the final at Lord’s on Sunday, 5 July — a fitting stage for what promises to be a landmark day for women’s cricket.
If teams finish level on points in the group stage, the tie-breakers run in this order: number of wins, net run rate, head-to-head results, and finally ICC T20I rankings heading into the tournament.
The Groups: Who Plays Whom?
Group A: Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Netherlands
Group B: England, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland
Group A is being called the “group of death” by plenty of fans, and it’s hard to argue. Australia, India and South Africa — three of the strongest sides in the world — are fighting for just two semi-final spots. Add in a dangerous Pakistan outfit and a Bangladesh team that won the Global Qualifier in Nepal, and there’s very little margin for error.
Group B has its own intrigue. Hosts England and defending champions New Zealand look like favourites to progress, but the West Indies, led by the brilliant Hayley Matthews, have the firepower to upset anyone. Sri Lanka, with the legendary Chamari Athapaththu, open the tournament against England, and the all-British clash between England and Scotland adds a layer of local rivalry we’ve never seen at a World Cup before.
Full Schedule: Key Dates and Fixtures
The group stage runs from 12 to 28 June, with matches spread across seven venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), Old Trafford (Manchester), Headingley (Leeds), the Hampshire Bowl (Southampton), Bristol County Ground, The Oval and Lord’s (both in London).
Here are the fixtures every cricket fan should circle on the calendar:
Friday, 12 June – England vs Sri Lanka, Edgbaston, Birmingham The tournament opener, complete with an opening ceremony. Edgbaston is a special venue for English women’s cricket — it’s where England won the very first Women’s Cricket World Cup back in 1973. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side will want to start with a statement.
Sunday, 14 June – India vs Pakistan, Edgbaston, Birmingham The biggest rivalry in cricket lands in Birmingham on the opening weekend. Earlier that same day, the Netherlands play their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh at the same ground — a historic moment for Dutch cricket.
Tuesday, 16 June – England vs Ireland An all-European contest with bragging rights and crucial group points on the line.
Saturday, 20 June – England vs Scotland, Headingley, Leeds A genuinely historic fixture. This is the first time England and Scotland have ever met at a World Cup — men’s or women’s — on English soil. Expect a sold-out Headingley and an atmosphere to match. The same day features a Group A double-header, with Australia facing the Netherlands and Pakistan taking on Bangladesh.
Thursday, 25 June – South Africa vs Netherlands, Bristol South Africa return to Bristol, the ground where their 2017 ODI World Cup dream ended in a heartbreaking semi-final against England.
Tuesday, 30 June & Thursday, 2 July – Semi-finals, The Oval, London Knockout cricket at one of the game’s great venues.
Sunday, 5 July – The Final, Lord’s, London The Home of Cricket hosts the showpiece. Whoever lifts the trophy here will have earned it the hard way.
The Twelve Teams: Form, Stars and Storylines
New Zealand (defending champions): The White Ferns stunned everyone in Dubai in 2024, beating South Africa by 32 runs in the final to win their first T20 World Cup. Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr remain the heartbeat of the side, and they’ll back themselves to go deep again in English conditions.
India: Fresh off their historic ODI World Cup triumph on home soil in late 2025, India arrive in England brimming with belief. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team came agonisingly close in 2020, losing the final to Australia at a packed MCG. With match-winners like Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh and the rising left-arm spinner Shree Charani, many pundits have India among the favourites to finally get over the line in T20 cricket.
Australia: The most successful team in tournament history is entering a new era. Sophie Molineux captains a squad blending experienced champions — Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Megan Schutt — with exciting young talent like Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll. Even in transition, you write Australia off at your peril.
England (hosts): Home advantage, packed crowds and a squad featuring Sophie Ecclestone — arguably the best bowler in the world — make England serious contenders. The hosts haven’t won this tournament since the inaugural edition in 2009, which was also held in England. The script is there for the taking.
South Africa: Runners-up in both 2023 and 2024, the Proteas know the pain of falling at the final hurdle better than anyone. Laura Wolvaardt leads a side desperate to take that last step.
West Indies: The 2016 champions controversially missed out on the 2024 edition, so they return with a point to prove. Hayley Matthews is a one-woman matchwinner on her day.
Pakistan: Under the dynamic Fatima Sana, Pakistan have shown real progress. The India clash on 14 June is their chance to make the cricketing world sit up.
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu remains one of the most destructive batters in the women’s game, and Sri Lanka open the entire tournament against the hosts.
Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty’s side won the Global Qualifier in Nepal earlier this year and arrive with momentum and confidence.
Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands: The qualifiers complete the line-up, and their presence means European nations make up a third of the field — a genuine milestone for the growth of the game. The Netherlands are at a Women’s T20 World Cup for the very first time, while Gaby Lewis was the leading run-scorer at the qualifier for Ireland.
Results: How to Follow the Tournament
With the tournament now live, results will come thick and fast — there are matches on most days between 12 and 28 June, including several double-headers. The opening fixture between England and Sri Lanka at Edgbaston sets the tone, with the India vs Pakistan blockbuster following just two days later.
For live scores, points tables and full scorecards, the ICC’s official website and app are the definitive sources, while major cricket platforms carry ball-by-ball coverage of every fixture. We’ll know our four semi-finalists by 28 June, with the knockout matches at The Oval on 30 June and 2 July deciding who walks out at Lord’s for the 5 July final.
In India, the tournament is being broadcast on the Star Sports network, with streaming available via JioHotstar. UK viewers can follow live coverage through Sky Sports, with highlights and radio commentary widely available.
Latest News Ahead of the Tournament
The build-up has been packed with developments. All twelve squads completed their preparations with a round of official warm-up matches between 6 and 10 June, played in Derby, Loughborough and Cardiff. The ICC confirmed its panel of match officials in late May, with the opening ceremony scheduled at Edgbaston ahead of the first ball.
There’s significant money on the line too. The ICC has allocated a total prize pool of $8.76 million — a 10% increase on the 2024 edition. The champions will take home at least $2.34 million, and every group-stage win earns a team an additional bonus of just over $31,000.
Ticket demand has been enormous since the public ballot opened back in July 2025, with the Lord’s final and the India vs Pakistan group clash among the hottest tickets in British sport this summer.
FAQs
When does the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 start and end? The tournament runs from 12 June to 5 July 2026, with the final at Lord’s in London.
How many teams are playing in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup? Twelve teams — the largest field in the tournament’s history, up from ten in previous editions.
Who won the last Women’s T20 World Cup? New Zealand won the 2024 edition in the UAE, beating South Africa by 32 runs in the final in Dubai.
Where is the final being played? At Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Sunday, 5 July 2026. Both semi-finals take place at The Oval.
Which teams qualified through the Global Qualifier? Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland earned the final four spots at the qualifier held in Nepal in January–February 2026.
When is India vs Pakistan? Sunday, 14 June 2026 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Final Thoughts
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has all the ingredients of a classic — an expanded field, the most famous venues in cricket, fierce rivalries, and at least five teams with a genuine shot at the trophy. Will New Zealand defend their crown? Can India turn ODI glory into T20 gold? Will England deliver for the home crowds, or does Australia’s golden machine roll on under new leadership?
Over the next three and a half weeks, we’ll find out. Bookmark this page, set your reminders for 12 June onwards, and settle in — women’s cricket’s biggest summer is here.
