ICC shortlists five venues to host T20 World Cup 2026, Bengaluru ruled out

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed the venues for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India, with Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai hosting matches across the country. The tournament will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka, with Colombo and Kandy shortlisted as the two venues for the island nation.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7, 2026, and will culminate with the final in Ahmedabad on March 8. According to reports, the ICC is expected to release the detailed match schedule next week, providing clarity to participating teams and fans just three months ahead of the start. Ticketing details for the event are yet to be



announced.

As per an agreement between the BCCI and PCB, Pakistan will play all their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka, with any potential final involving Pakistan also taking place at a neutral venue in Sri Lanka.

The tournament will follow the same format as the previous edition, featuring 20 teams divided into four groups of five. Each team will play the others in their group once, with the top two sides from each group advancing to the Super Eight stage. The eight qualifiers will then be split into two groups of four, with the top two from each progressing to the semi-finals and ultimately the final.