2026 Men’s T20 World Cup: The Essential Guide
The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup marks its 10th edition, with the tournament commencing on February 7, 2026. The event will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, while Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka due to an agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC). The opening matches feature Pakistan against the Netherlands in Colombo, followed by West Indies squaring off against Scotland in Kolkata, and India starting their campaign against the United States in Mumbai.
Key Tournament Dates and Structure
The group stage lasts until February 20, 2026, followed by the Super Eight phase from February 21 to March 1. Two semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 and 5, with the championship match set for March 8. The tournament features 20 nations divided into four groups of five:
- Group A: India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan
- Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
- Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland, Italy, Nepal
- Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage. The teams’ performances will determine their seedings going forward, affecting their matchups in subsequent rounds.
Venue Information
Matches will be held across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka, including:
- R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
- Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Chennai
- Delhi
Important matches like the semi-finals and finals will be held at Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium, respectively.
Broadcasting and Matches
All 55 matches will be broadcasted live on Prime Video in Australia, covering exclusive ICC events until 2027. The platform will offer a “rapid recap” feature to catch up late arrivals on key highlights. Fans in Australia can also stream live audio coverage via the ABC Listen app and SEN Radio.
Time Zone Considerations
For Australian viewers, critical matches like Australia vs. Ireland will air at 8:30 PM AEDT on February 11. However, later matches could start as late as 12:30 AM AEDT. In contrast, matches occurring in India and Sri Lanka will kick off at 11 AM, 3 PM, or 7 PM local time.
Australia’s Group B Schedule
- February 11: vs. Ireland, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (8:30 PM AEDT)
- February 13: vs. Zimbabwe, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (4:30 PM AEDT)
- February 16: vs. Sri Lanka, Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy (February 17, 12:30 AM AEDT)
- February 20: vs. Oman, Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy (February 21, 12:30 AM AEDT)
Squad Details
The Australian team is led by Mitch Marsh. Key players include Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, and Glenn Maxwell. Notable omissions include Pat Cummins, who is sidelined due to back issues.
Trophy and Prize Money
The champions of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup will receive a prestigious trophy weighing 3.9 kg and standing 51 cm tall. Crafted with silver-plated base metal, the historical trophy has been claimed by six different teams previously, with West Indies, England, and India winning twice. While the ICC has not announced this year’s prize money, it is expected to match or exceed US$2.45 million awarded to the 2024 champions.
For updates and detailed match coverage, visit Filmogaz.com as we track the excitement of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
