The ultimate of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will likely be held at Lord’s on Sunday 5 July, it has been announced.
Lord’s, which was also the venue for the thrilling final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup between England and India in 2017, is one in all seven venues confirmed for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, alongside Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Headingley, Edgbaston, Hampshire Bowl, The Oval and Bristol County Ground.
The competition will kick off on Friday, 12 June before culminating at Lord’s, 33 fixtures and 24 days later, showcasing one of the best of the worldwide women’s game and looking for to take women’s cricket into the mainstream.
Expanded competition
An expanded competition will see 12 teams descend on England and Wales to compete for the distinguished trophy that’s currently held by Latest Zealand.
The schedule of the tournament, which can see the teams competing in two groups followed by a knockout stage, will likely be announced sooner or later.
Eight countries are already sure of their place, with the ultimate 4 participants to be decided through a Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier next yr.
Hosting rights
England and Wales were awarded hosting rights for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in 2022, with the seven host venues chosen subsequently following evaluation of varied criteria.
The competition will likely be officially launched at an event at Lord’s today (May 1), featuring among the biggest names in British women’s sport, including England Head Coach Charlotte Edwards, England stars Tammy Beaumont, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell, and England rugby player Ellie Kildunne.
It would set out a vision for the tournament to be a sporting spectacle which might speed up equality in cricket and alter the sport for good, taking women’s cricket into the mainstream permanently.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Chair Jay Shah and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Richard Gould welcomed the confirmation of the venues.
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Defining moment
ICC Chair Jay Shah said: “The confirmation of venues represents a defining moment as we construct towards the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. This tournament will bring together the world’s finest players in a celebration of skill, spirit and sportsmanship.
“The UK’s wealthy diversity has all the time shown passionate support for all teams, something we witnessed so memorably at past events.
“The sell-out Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2017 stays a landmark within the rise of the ladies’s game, and I cannot consider a more fitting stage for the ultimate.
“As we turn our focus to preparing for the tournament, we’re excited by the promise of thrilling T20 motion that is not going to only captivate fans here but in addition function a showcase for cricket’s return on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles 2028.”
Hugely excited
ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould said: “We’re hugely excited for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, and thrilled to have the ability to verify the seven iconic venues that may host the tournament.
“It’s in fact phenomenal to announce that the ultimate will likely be going down at Lord’s. It’s one in all the best venues in world cricket and each cricketer dreams of being a part of occasions like a World Cup final at Lord’s.
“This will likely be the largest women’s cricket event ever staged in England and Wales and is undoubtedly a chance to take the sport to more people than ever before and welcome in latest fans – young and old.
“Crucially though this isn’t nearly scale, it’s about providing a world-class experience for players, fans and broadcasters alike, ensuring that the tournament reflects the elite performance of the players on the pitch.
“We wish this competition to be a part of a long-term movement, and not only a single moment in time. This World Cup will grow a brand new generation of fans who didn’t grow up with women’s cricket but won’t ever imagine sport without it.”
Co-Tournament Directors
It has also been announced that Director of Women’s Skilled Game Beth Barrett-Wild and Director of Major Events Rob Hillman will act as Co-Tournament Directors for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The ICC’s global women’s events have been growing because the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 with increased attendances at venues and more viewership across broadcast and digital platforms.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 final between Australia and India in Melbourne saw a record 86,174 spectators in attendance while the finals of the next T20 World Cups in Cape Town (2023) and Dubai (2024) were also sold out in markets where women’s cricket had never been ticketed before.
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