2026 is going to be an extraordinary year for international cricket, featuring the highly anticipated ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, bilateral tours across all formats, and several competitive bilateral series. This comprehensive ICC 2026 Cricket Calendar guide covers all major events, tournament schedules, and international tours that cricket enthusiasts should mark on their calendars. Whether you're interested in watching the T20 World Cup 2026, tracking the India tour of England, or following bilateral matches between top-ranked teams, this detailed breakdown will help you stay updated with the complete ICC 2026 schedule.
Overview of ICC 2026 Calendar
The 2026 international cricket calendar spans from January through September, featuring an exciting blend of T20 International matches, One Day International (ODI) series, Test cricket, and women's international cricket. The year begins with preparation tours for the upcoming World Cups and concludes with bilateral series matches between established cricket nations.
ICC 2026 calendar include:
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in February-March
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in June-July
Multiple bilateral Test series across top cricket nations
ODI and T20I series involving India, England, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka
Women's Test cricket featuring historic matches like the first women's Test at Lord's
The calendar reflects the International Cricket Council's strategic planning for developing the sport globally, with matches scheduled across diverse venues to maximize fan engagement and prepare teams for major tournaments.
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Complete Details
Tournament Overview
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is the 10th edition of the most popular T20 cricket tournament in the world. It represents the ultimate championship for T20 International cricket and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, continuing the subcontinent's legacy of hosting major ICC events.
Tournament Details:
Tournament Dates: 7 February 2026 to 8 March 2026
Host Countries: India (5 venues) and Sri Lanka (3 venues)
Total Matches: 55 matches across 29 days
Format: 20 teams divided into 4 groups of 5
Tournament Structure: Group stage → Super Eights → Knockouts (Semi-finals and Final)
Venue Details for ICC T20 World Cup 2026
The T20 World Cup 2026 venues have been strategically selected to showcase world-class cricket infrastructure. Here's the complete list:
Indian Venues:
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (hosts the final - world's largest cricket stadium)
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sri Lankan Venues:
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Cricket Ground, Colombo
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Group Division for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026
The T20 World Cup 2026 groups have been structured to create competitive balance and exciting matchups:
Group A: India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Important T20 World Cup 2026 Matches
Opening Day Fixtures (7 February 2026):
Pakistan vs Netherlands at SSC, Colombo
West Indies vs Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India vs USA at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
India vs Pakistan Match:
Date: 15 February 2026
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Significance: One of the most anticipated matches in the tournament
Semi-final and Final Venues:
Semi-final 1: Kolkata or Colombo (7:00 PM, 4 March 2026)
Semi-final 2: Mumbai (7:00 PM, 5 March 2026)
Final: Ahmedabad or Colombo (7:00 PM, 8 March 2026)
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule and Details
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 represents a significant milestone for women's cricket, being hosted by England from June 12 to July 5, 2026. This tournament features 12 teams competing for the prestigious title.
Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Venues
The tournament will be held across seven iconic English venues:
Edgbaston, Birmingham
Old Trafford, Manchester
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Headingley, Leeds
County Ground, Bristol
Lord's Cricket Ground, London (Final venue)
The Oval, London (Semi-final venue)
Key Matches in Women's T20 World Cup 2026
Opening Match:
England vs Sri Lanka - 12 June 2026 at Edgbaston, Birmingham
Historic Matchups:
India vs Pakistan - 14 June 2026 at Edgbaston, Birmingham
Australia vs South Africa - 13 June 2026 at Old Trafford, Manchester
Finals:
Semi-final 1: 30 June 2026 at The Oval, London
Semi-final 2: 2 July 2026 at The Oval, London
Final: 5 July 2026 at Lord's Cricket Ground, London
India Tour of England 2026: Complete Schedule
White-Ball Series Schedule
India will tour England in July 2026 for a comprehensive white-ball series featuring 5 T20 Internationals and 3 One Day Internationals.
T20I Series Dates and Venues:
1st T20I: 1 July, Riverside Ground, Durham
2nd T20I: 4 July, Old Trafford, Manchester
3rd T20I: 7 July, Trent Bridge, Nottingham
4th T20I: 9 July, County Ground, Bristol
5th T20I: 11 July, Utilita Bowl, Southampton
ODI Series Dates and Venues:
1st ODI: 14 July, Edgbaston, Birmingham
2nd ODI: 16 July, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
3rd ODI: 19 July, Lord's Cricket Ground, London
England's Men's Home Summer 2026
England will host multiple teams during their busy summer schedule:
June 2026: New Zealand Test Series (3 matches)
4-8 June: Lord's, London
17-21 June: The Oval, London
25-29 June: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
July 2026: India White-Ball Series (5 T20Is, 3 ODIs)
August-September 2026: Pakistan Test Series (3 matches)
19-23 August: Headingley, Leeds
27-31 August: Lord's, London
9-13 September: Edgbaston, Birmingham
September 2026: Sri Lanka White-Ball Series (3 T20Is, 3 ODIs)
Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka: January 2026
Pakistan will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 preparation with a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka during early January.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I Series:
Dates: 7, 9, and 11 January 2026
Venue: Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Format: T20 International matches
Purpose: Preparation for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026
All three matches will be played in Dambulla, providing Pakistan with valuable match practice on subcontinent conditions before the World Cup begins.
India Tour of Bangladesh 2026
The India tour of Bangladesh has been rescheduled to September 2026 (originally planned for August 2025). This white-ball series will comprise:
3 One Day International matches
3 Twenty20 International matches
Venues: Mirpur and Chattogram
Dates: September 2026 (exact dates to be announced)
This bilateral series will be crucial for both teams to fine-tune their strategies ahead of future ICC tournaments.
New Zealand Tour of Bangladesh 2026
New Zealand will tour Bangladesh in April 2026 for a complete white-ball series:
3 ODI matches
3 T20I matches
Venue: Bangladesh
Dates: April 2026
This tour is part of New Zealand's preparation for World Cup tournaments and allows them to gain experience in subcontinent conditions.
India vs New Zealand Series 2026
The India tour of New Zealand is scheduled for October-November 2026, featuring a comprehensive tour:
2 Test matches (for ICC World Test Championship)
3 ODI matches
5 T20I matches
Duration: October-November 2026
This high-profile bilateral series will showcase top cricket action between two traditional powerhouses of the sport.
Women's Cricket in 2026
England Women's Home Season
England Women vs New Zealand (May 2026)
3 ODI matches
3 T20I matches
Dates: 10-25 May 2026
England Women vs India Women (May-July 2026)
3 T20I matches (28 May - 2 June)
1 Test match (10-13 July) at Lord's Cricket Ground - HISTORIC first women's Test at Lord's
England Women vs Ireland Women (September 2026)
3 ODI matches
Dates: 1-6 September 2026
India Women's Tour of Australia 2026
India Women will tour Australia in February-March 2026:
3 T20I matches (15, 19, 21 February)
3 ODI matches (24, 27 February, 1 March)
1 Test match (6-9 March) at Perth Stadium
Australia's Tour Schedule 2026
Pakistan Tour of Australia (Late January 2026)
Pakistan will tour Australia for a three-match T20I series in the final week of January, serving as additional World Cup preparation.
Australia Bilateral Series
Australia will participate in numerous bilateral matches throughout 2026:
T20 World Cup 2026 preparation matches
Home and away series against top cricket nations
ODI and T20I fixtures across various venues
Cricket Events Timeline: Month-by-Month Breakdown
January 2026
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (T20I series)
New Zealand tour of India (ODI and T20I series)
Pakistan tour of Australia (T20I series)
February 2026
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 begins (7 February)
India Women vs Australia Women (T20I series)
T20 World Cup Group Stage matches continue
March 2026
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 concludes (8 March)
Semi-finals and Final matches
Women's Test cricket preparations
April 2026
New Zealand tour of Bangladesh
Bilateral ODI and T20I series across nations
May 2026
England Women host New Zealand
England Women host India Women
June-July 2026
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 (12 June - 5 July)
England host New Zealand (Test series in June)
India tour of England (T20I and ODI series in July)
England Women vs India Women (Test at Lord's - 10 July)
August-September 2026
England host Pakistan (Test series)
England host Sri Lanka (ODI and T20I series)
India tour of Bangladesh
England Women host Ireland (ODI series)
Key Series and Bilateral Tours 2026
Test Cricket Calendar 2026
The ICC World Test Championship cycle continues with multiple bilateral Test series:
England vs New Zealand (June 2026)
England vs Pakistan (August-September 2026)
India Women vs England Women (July 2026) - First women's Test at Lord's
India vs New Zealand (October-November 2026)
Various other bilateral Test matches across the 2026 season
ODI Series 2026
Bilateral ODI series will be played between major cricketing nations:
India vs England (July 2026)
New Zealand vs Bangladesh (April 2026)
India vs Bangladesh (September 2026)
Sri Lanka vs England (September 2026)
Women's ODI series across various nations
T20I Series 2026
Short-format cricket will feature prominently with:
T20 World Cup 2026 (February-March)
Women's T20 World Cup 2026 (June-July)
Bilateral T20I series before and after World Cups
Preparation matches for upcoming tournaments
How to Watch ICC 2026 Events
Streaming Platforms
Most ICC cricket matches 2026 will be available on:
Star Sports (India)
Sky Sports (UK)
Sony Sports Network (South Asia)
Hotstar/Disney Plus (Multiple regions)
Official ICC platforms
Ticket Information
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Fans can register interest for tickets on the official ICC website, with official travel packages available through ICC Travel & Tours.
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Tickets will be available through official ECB channels.
Historical Significance of ICC 2026 Calendar
The 2026 cricket calendar marks several historic moments:
First Women's Test at Lord's: England Women will play against India Women in a one-off Test at Lord's on 10-13 July 2026, making history as the first women's Test match at the iconic venue.
Consecutive World Cups: The Men's T20 World Cup in February-March is followed by the Women's T20 World Cup in June-July, creating an unprecedented global cricket extravaganza.
Return of T20 World Cup to Asia: After a decade gap (since the 2016 edition in India), the T20 World Cup returns to the subcontinent with co-hosting arrangements between India and Sri Lanka.
Conclusion: Plan Your ICC 2026 Cricket Year
The ICC 2026 Cricket Calendar presents an extraordinary opportunity for cricket enthusiasts to witness world-class international cricket across all formats. From the excitement of back-to-back World Cups to high-profile bilateral series featuring traditional cricket rivals, 2026 promises to be a memorable year for the sport.
Whether you're interested in following India's cricket schedule 2026, tracking England's home summer, or watching historic women's cricket moments, this comprehensive guide covers all the essential information about major ICC tournaments, bilateral tours, and international cricket events scheduled for 2026.
Mark your calendars and prepare for an action-packed year of cricket featuring the best teams, venues, and players in the world. The ICC 2026 calendar offers something for every cricket fan, ensuring that 2026 will be remembered as one of the most exciting cricket years in recent history.