ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule Announced

Overview

The ICC has officially unveiled the schedule for the T20 World Cup 2026 confirming India and Pakistan in the same group. The tournament will run from February 7 to March 8 across venues in India and Sri Lanka. A total of 20 teams will compete for the prestigious title.

Official poster of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 featuring host nations India and Sri Lanka.

The International Cricket Council ICC has unveiled the complete schedule for the Mens T20 World Cup 2026. One of the biggest highlights this year is the placement of arch rivals Pakistan and India in the same group promising high voltage action early in the tournament. Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has also been appointed as the official brand ambassador for the event.

Tournament Overview & Host Nations

According to ICC the mega event will take place from February 7 to March 8, 2026 with India and Sri Lanka jointly hosting the tournament. Matches will be played across seven international venues:

New Delhi

Kolkata

Chennai

Ahmedabad

Mumbai

Kandy

Colombo

This edition features 20 participating nations divided into four groups similar to the previous tournament structure.

Group Stage Format

How the Group Stage Works

The 20 qualified teams have been split into four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super 8 stage where teams will again be divided into two groups. The leading two teams from each Super 8 group will move on to the semifinals.

Full Group Division for T20 World Cup 2026

Group A

India

Pakistan

United States

Netherlands

Namibia

Group B

Sri Lanka

Australia

Ireland

Zimbabwe

Oman

Group C

England

West Indies

Bangladesh

Nepal

Italy

Group D

New Zealand

South Africa

Afghanistan

Canada

UAE

Pakistan and India in the Same Group

One of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament will be the Pakistan India match scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium Colombo. This clash marks their first meeting since the 2025 Asia Cup and is expected to draw global attention.

Pakistan Matches & Tournament Path

Pakistan will play all their group stage matches in Sri Lanka. Their opening match is set for February 7 in Colombo against the Netherlands. Meanwhile India will begin their campaign on the same day in Mumbai against the United States.

Semifinals and Final Details

The first semifinal will be played in Kolkata while the second semifinal will take place in Colombo on March 4. The grand finale is scheduled for March 8 in Ahmedabad.

ICC has also informed the BCCI that if Sri Lanka qualifies for the semifinals their match will be shifted to Colombo. Similarly if Pakistan reaches the final the match will be held at a neutral venue.