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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the host venues for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, confirming that the final will be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 5.
Seven venues across England have been picked to stage the 33 matches of the expanded 12-team tournament, which will be played over 24 days.
Alongside Lord’s, the selected venues include Old Trafford, Headingley, Edgbaston, The Oval, Hampshire Bowl, and the Bristol County Ground.
This will mark the return of a women’s World Cup final to Lord’s for the first time since the 2017 edition, where a packed crowd witnessed England defeat India, a moment often credited with sparking global momentum for the women’s game.
New Zealand will come into the tournament as defending champions, having lifted the trophy in the 2024 edition hosted by the UAE.
Eight teams have already secured qualification: Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The remaining four spots will be filled via a global qualifier scheduled for next year.
The tournament format will feature two groups of six teams each, followed by the semi-finals and the grand finale at Lord’s.
“The United Kingdom’s rich diversity has always shown passionate support for all teams, something we witnessed so memorably at past events,” Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), said.
“The sell-out Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2017 remains a landmark in the rise of the women’s game, and I cannot think of a more fitting stage for the final.
“As we turn our focus to preparing for the tournament, we are excited by the promise of thrilling T20 action that will not only captivate fans here but also serve as a showcase for cricket’s return on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles 2028.”
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Richard Gould echoed the sentiment, especially about the Lord’s final.
“It is, of course, extra special to announce that the final will be taking place at Lord’s. It is one of the finest venues in world cricket, and every cricketer dreams of being part of occasions like a World Cup final at Lord’s,” said Gould.
“This will be the biggest women’s cricket event ever staged in England and Wales and is undoubtedly an opportunity to take the game to more people than ever before and welcome new fans, young and old.
“We want this competition to be part of a long-term movement, and not just a single moment in time. This World Cup will grow a new generation of fans who didn’t grow up with women’s cricket but will never imagine sport without it.”
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be jointly directed by Beth Barrett-Wild, Director of Women’s Professional Game, and Rob Hillman, Director of Major Events.
The announcement follows the continued rise in stature of women’s cricket globally. The 2020 T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground drew a record 86,174 spectators, further cementing the format’s appeal.
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