ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule, Squads, Venues, Stats, News
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be one of the most anticipated global cricket tournaments. But why? It’s because it ends up bringing together the top women cricketers from around the world. This will be the 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, to be hosted by England from June 12 to July 5, 2026.
Organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the tournament continues to show the growth of women’s cricket on a global stage. With its pro matches, full stadiums, and growing global audiences, it is expected to become a great competitive editions out there.
Tournament Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Dates | 12 June – 5 July 2026 |
| Administrator | International Cricket Council (ICC) |
| Format | Twenty20 International (T20I) |
| Tournament Type | Round-robin & Knockout |
| Host Country | England |
| Number of Teams | 12 |
| Matches | 33 T20Is |
| Defending Champion | New Zealand Women (2024 Winners) |
| Most Successful Team | Australia (6 Titles) |
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule Summary
| Year | Host Nation | Dates | Total Matches | Tournament Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | England | 12 June – 5 July 2026 | 33 | Group Stage & Knockouts |
| 2028 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Teams Participating in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Confirmed Teams
- Australia Women
- England Women
- India Women
- New Zealand Women
- South Africa Women
- West Indies Women
- Pakistan Women
- Sri Lanka Women
- + 4 Teams from Qualifiers (TBD)
The ICC confirmed that 12 teams will compete in the 2026 edition. Also it should include the top 8 ranked sides and 4 qualifiers from the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2025.
Venues for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
England, being the host nation, will use some of its premier cricket grounds for this tournament. Each venue is expected to host group-stage matches and possibly a semi-final or final.
| Venue | City | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Old Trafford | Manchester | 26,000 |
| Edgbaston | Birmingham | 25,000 |
| The Oval | London | 27,000 |
| Headingley | Leeds | 18,000 |
| Rose Bowl | Southampton | 17,000 |
| Bristol County Ground | Bristol | 12,000 |
Previous Winners List (2009-2024)
| Year | Host | Winner | Runner-Up | Final Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | England | England | New Zealand | London |
| 2010 | West Indies | Australia | New Zealand | Bridgetown |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | Australia | England | Colombo |
| 2014 | Bangladesh | Australia | England | Dhaka |
| 2016 | India | West Indies | Australia | Kolkata |
| 2018 | West Indies | Australia | England | North Sound |
| 2020 | Australia | Australia | India | Melbourne |
| 2023 | South Africa | Australia | South Africa | Cape Town |
| 2024 | UAE | New Zealand | South Africa | Dubai |
| 2026 | England | TBD | TBD | TBD |
All-Time Tournament Stats
| Category | Record Holder | Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Most Titles | Australia Women | 6 Titles |
| Most Runs (Overall) | Suzie Bates (NZ) | 1,216 Runs |
| Most Wickets (Overall) | Megan Schutt (AUS) | 48 Wickets |
| Highest Team Total | Australia | 184/4 (vs India, 2020 Final) |
| Best Bowling Figures | Deandra Dottin (WI) | 5/5 |
| Most Appearances | Harmanpreet Kaur (IND) | 40+ Matches |
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Format & Group Stage
The format will feature two groups (A & B), with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals. Each team will play a round-robin format in the group stage.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| England Women | India Women |
| Australia Women | South Africa Women |
| West Indies Women | New Zealand Women |
| TBD (Qualifier 1) | TBD (Qualifier 2) |
| TBD (Qualifier 3) | TBD (Qualifier 4) |
Predicted Top Performers: Players to Watch in 2026
| Player | Team | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | India | Explosive top-order batter |
| Meg Lanning | Australia | Experienced captain & run-machine |
| Sophie Devine | New Zealand | All-round powerhouse |
| Marizanne Kapp | South Africa | Pace spearhead & handy bat |
| Hayley Matthews | West Indies | Match-winning all-rounder |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | England | Consistent finisher & medium pacer |
Batting & Bowling Records (Overall)
Batting
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzie Bates (NZ) | 40 | 1,216 | 36.84 | 115.2 | 0/8 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (IND) | 38 | 910 | 28.43 | 125.6 | 1/5 |
| Meg Lanning (AUS) | 35 | 840 | 34.16 | 120.8 | 0/6 |
| Smriti Mandhana (IND) | 30 | 765 | 30.6 | 127.1 | 0/4 |
Bowling
| Player | Matches | Wickets | BBI | Economy | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Schutt (AUS) | 35 | 48 | 4/18 | 6.05 | 17.2 |
| Sophie Ecclestone (ENG) | 32 | 43 | 4/11 | 5.74 | 15.9 |
| Deepti Sharma (IND) | 33 | 36 | 3/15 | 6.25 | 20.4 |
| Shabnim Ismail (SA) | 34 | 35 | 3/12 | 6.31 | 21.6 |
Legacy and Significance
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup has been pivotal in transforming women’s cricket globally. From its humble beginnings in 2009, the tournament has evolved into a prime-time spectacle, broadcast in over 150 countries.
The 2026 edition is especially significant as:
- It is being hosted by England.
- The tournament will feature 12 teams.
- A total of 33 matches will be played.
- It provides more opportunities for emerging nations.
Legacy and Sign
The 2024 win of New Zealand Women reignited competitive balance by breaking Australia’s long-standing power. As cricketing nations invest heavily in women’s domestic, the 2026 World Cup is expected to give great performances.
Read More: Big Bash League (BBL) Winners List & Runners-Up (From 2011 to 2025)
Conclusion
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is not just another tournament as it’s a celebration of how far women’s cricket has come. With new stars rising, and fans across continents waiting eagerly, England 2026 promises to be a new chapter in cricketing history.
Stay tuned for official schedule updates and player stats as we move closer to the world’s grandest stage for women’s cricket!
FAQs: Questions & Answers
Q1. When will the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 take place?
The tournament will be held from June 12 to July 5, 2026, in England.
Q2. How many teams will participate in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup?
A total of 12 teams will participate, including 8 directly qualified teams and 4 teams through the T20 World Cup Qualifier 2025.
Q3. Who won the last ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (2024)?
New Zealand Women won the 2024 edition in the UAE, defeating South Africa Women by 8 wickets in the final.
Q4. Which team has won the most Women’s T20 World Cup titles?
Australia Women dominate the competition’s history with six championship titles (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023).
Q5. How can fans watch the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026?
The matches will be broadcast globally via Star Sports, ICC.tv, and digital platforms like Disney+ Hotstar and Cricbuzz Live.
Hello readers! My name is Mouli Gupta, I am a content writer with over 2+ years of experience. I love writing simple and engaging sports content and sharing clear, helpful cricket stories with readers. So did you like my articles? If you have any questions, please comment now. Thanks for reading.
