ICC finalises venues for T20 World Cup 2026, Ahmedabad and Kolkata to host semi-finals - Reports

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be played in February-March next year.

In what has been the latest development, as per the reports in Cricbuzz, it is learned that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalised the venues for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. A total of eight venues across India and Sri Lanka will host the mega event. 

Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata will be venues in India, while two stadiums in Colombo and another in Kandy will be there in Sri Lanka. Although, there is no confirmation related to the venue of the final, it is learned that the Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Eden Gardens in Kolkata have been shortlisted for the semi-finals.

The reports added that Ahmedabad remains the top option to host the final but it will also depend on Pakistan’s qualification. Due to the settlement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Men in Green will play all their games in Sri Lanka.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals to be played in India if Sri Lanka or Pakistan fail to qualify

The reports added that if either Sri Lanka or Pakistan reach the semi-final then one of the knockout clash will be played in Colombo. If neither reaches the last-four stage, both the semi-finals will be played in India.

As per the ICC release, T20 World Cup 2026 will be played in the same format as the 2024. A total of 20 teams will take part in the tournament and will be placed in four different groups of five teams each. Along with the top 13 teams, Canada, the Netherlands, UAE, Nepal, Oman, Namibia and Italy have qualified for the tournament.

The top two teams from each group will head into the Super Eight stage, which will feature two groups. “The Super Eights will feature two groups of four sides, with the top two finishers from each group then progressing to the knockout semifinals,” the ICC said.

The reports claimed that the ICC will soon release the entire schedule. India will defend the championship, having won the 2024 edition under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, beating South Africa in the final.

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