Lord’s to Host Women’s T20 World Cup Final in 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the schedule and venues for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the tournament set to take place from June 12 to July 5.

The opening match of the 12-team competition will be held in Birmingham on June 12, featuring host nation England. The identity of their first opponent is yet to be confirmed.

The Oval in London will be the venue for both semi-final matches, scheduled for June 30 and July 2 respectively. The final will be contested at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 5.

This event marks a significant return of a major women’s final to Lord’s, which previously hosted the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final. In that match, England triumphed over India, a moment that significantly boosted the profile of women’s cricket.

The other venues hosting matches during the tournament include Old Trafford, Headingley, Hampshire Bowl, and Bristol County Ground.

New Zealand will participate as defending champions, having secured victory in the 2024 edition held in the UAE.

To date, eight teams have qualified for the 2026 tournament: Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The remaining four teams will be determined through a global qualifying event next year.

The competition will consist of a group stage followed by knockout rounds, with two groups of six teams progressing to the semi-finals and ultimately, the final at Lord’s.

This tournament follows the success of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final in Australia, which saw a record attendance of 86,174 fans witness Australia’s victory over India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.