While the men's World Cup dominates the global conversation, England quietly picks up hosting duties for the biggest event in women's T20 cricket. The tenth edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup runs from June 12 to July 5 across seven iconic English venues โ Edgbaston, Lord's, The Oval, Old Trafford, Headingley, Bristol, and the Rose Bowl. Twelve teams, 33 matches, and a trophy up for grabs. Here is everything you need to know before the first ball is bowled.
Tournament format at a glance
The 12 competing nations are split into two groups of six, each team playing the other five in its group once in a round-robin format. The top two from each group advance directly to the semi-finals โ there is no extra qualification round. The semi-finals and final are all played at marquee venues, with Lord's hosting the final on July 5.
The condensed format means every match counts from the opening ball. One poor performance early on can leave a side chasing points they simply do not have the fixtures left to recover.
The groups
Group 1 reads like a who's-who of women's T20 power: Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Netherlands. Australia and India are the presumed top two โ both are ranked in the world's top three โ but South Africa have been improving rapidly and Pakistan have genuine match-winners in short-format cricket. The Group 1 table will be contested fiercely from the first day to the last.
Group 2 is England's to control as hosts, but the group is not a formality. New Zealand are the defending champions and arrive in excellent form. The West Indies have the explosive batting depth to upset any side in the world on their day, and Ireland have been competitive at recent ICC events. England's opening match against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12 kicks off the tournament โ a win is expected, but Scotland and Ireland games later in the group will carry nerves of their own.
The defending champions: New Zealand
New Zealand claimed the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup and arrive in England as the team to beat. Their formula is consistent and recognisable: disciplined bowling across all phases, smart batting rotations rather than flamboyant power-hitting, and fielding that sets standards the rest of the field aim to match. Suzie Bates remains one of the most complete T20 players in the world at any level.
The challenge for New Zealand is sustaining that standard away from home conditions. England's swing-friendly pitches and unpredictable weather can neutralise teams that rely heavily on pace and bounce. Their Group 2 schedule โ opener England, then West Indies, Ireland, Scotland, and Sri Lanka โ actually gives them every chance of topping the group and arriving at the semi-finals in peak condition.
The title favourites
Australia are the most decorated side in women's T20 history and arrive with a point to prove after New Zealand took the crown in 2024. With Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry anchoring the batting and one of the tournament's most versatile bowling attacks, they remain the single most dangerous team in Group 1.
India are the other obvious contender. They have the batting depth โ Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma can win a match inside the powerplay โ and in Deepti Sharma a genuine match-winner with the ball in the middle overs. Hosting at a neutral venue in England suits India's technically sound players more than conditions in Australia or the subcontinent would suit opposition.
England themselves cannot be discounted. Home conditions, packed crowds at Edgbaston and Headingley, and a squad that has been building consistently under their current management group. If Nat Sciver-Brunt is firing and the top order gets starts, England are capable of winning this tournament outright.
The first-timer: Netherlands
The Netherlands are making their Women's T20 World Cup debut, a landmark moment for European cricket development. Their Group 1 draw is brutal โ Australia, India, and South Africa are all top-ten sides โ but the credibility of qualifying at all reflects genuine progress in the Dutch women's programme. Watch for their games against Bangladesh and Pakistan, where results could be more competitive and significant for Group 1 standings.
How to watch
In the United Kingdom, all 33 matches are available on Sky Sports Cricket and the Sky Sports app. The BBC has streaming rights for select matches. For international viewers, check local ICC broadcast partners โ Star Sports in India, Sky in New Zealand, and Fox Sports in Australia carry comprehensive coverage.
The opening match, England vs Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, starts at 2:30 pm BST on June 12. The final at Lord's on July 5 is at 2:30 pm BST.
FAQ
How many teams are in the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup? Twelve โ split into two groups of six. Top two from each group go to the semi-finals.
Who are the defending champions? New Zealand, who won the 2024 edition. They are in Group 2 alongside hosts England.
Where is the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup final? Lord's Cricket Ground, London, on July 5, 2026.
Is this Australia's tournament to win? Many would say yes on paper โ but New Zealand are defending and India have the firepower to beat anyone on a given day. Follow live scores on Scorelisto's live cricket page and the Scorelisto blog for match updates throughout the tournament.