KEY POINTS
- The tournament will be played in India and Sri Lanka, with semifinals set for Ahmedabad and Kolkata.
- Sri Lanka’s Colombo and Kandy will host group-stage matches.
- Italy will make its T20 World Cup debut, alongside familiar sides like Canada, UAE, and Nepal.
ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC), in partnership with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), has revealed the eight venues shortlisted for the 2026 T20 World Cup, set to take place in February and March next year.
The tournament, which will feature 20 teams, will be hosted across two nations, India and Sri Lanka, with matches taking place in five Indian cities and three venues in Sri Lanka.
Indian Venues
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
These five Indian stadiums will host the group stages, followed by the knockout rounds. The Narendra Modi Stadium and Eden Gardens have been earmarked for the semifinals, offering a spectacular backdrop for the final stages of the tournament.
Sri Lankan Venues
- R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
- Colombo (second venue)
The three Sri Lankan venues will feature matches throughout the group stages, with a flexible arrangement for the semifinals.
If Sri Lanka or Pakistan reaches the final four, one semifinal will be staged in Colombo. However, if neither side makes it, both semifinals will be held in India.
The final venue, too, will depend on the teams that progress to the title clash. If Pakistan qualifies, Colombo could host the grand finale, otherwise, Ahmedabad remains a strong candidate for the final.
The tournament format will mirror the 2024 T20 World Cup, with 20 teams divided into four groups of five.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Eights, where they will battle for a spot in the semifinals.
New Faces and Familiar Rivals
This edition will feature Italy making its debut on the global stage, joining the 13 Test-playing nations alongside qualifiers such as Canada, the Netherlands, UAE, Nepal, Oman, and Namibia.
India enters the tournament as defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the 2024 final.
The full schedule and groupings are expected to be announced soon, with the ICC keeping the final decisions on venue flexibility in mind, particularly concerning the presence of Pakistan in the latter stages.
