NEW DELHI: The stage is being set for the T20 World Cup in 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
With buzz intensifying related to venues, reports from The Indian Express indicate the tournament is scheduled to begin on February 7, 2026, culminating in the final on March 8.
As per report, the most significant venue decisions point to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad being designated to host both the opening match and the grand final. Ahmedabad previously held both the opener and the championship game during the 2023 50-over World Cup.
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has also been put on a shortlist to host one of the tournament’s semi-finals. This decision comes with an twist: if the match between India and Pakistan occurs in the semi-final stage, that specific contest will be moved to Colombo, leaving the Wankhede Stadium to host the other semi-final clash.
Host Cities and Potential Warm-Ups
The competition will be spread across eight venues in total. The Indian leg of the tournament is expected to utilize five major cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. Sri Lanka, the co-host, will contribute three venues: the Premadasa Stadium and Pallekele, along with a venue yet to be finalized in either Dambulla or Hambantota.
While details about warm-up fixtures remain unclear, there is speculation that Bengaluru might host a few practice games. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently debating whether to utilize the high-quality facilities at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) or the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru for these preparatory matches.
