Lord’s Cricket Ground, the iconic ‘Home of Cricket,’ will host the final of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup on July 5, 2026. The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the announcement on Thursday at a launch event at Lord’s.
This edition, running from June 12 to July 5 across England and Wales, will feature 12 teams for the first time, with New Zealand entering as the defending champions after their 2024 triumph.
The tournament will be played across seven venues: Lord’s in London, Old Trafford in Manchester, Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Hampshire Bowl in Southampton, the Kennington Oval in London, and the County Ground in Bristol.
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The 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, consisting of the semi-finals and the final at Lord’s. The competition will see 33 matches being played in a span of 24 days.
Eight teams have already qualified. England, Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are the confirmed participants. The remaining four spots will be determined through a Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in 2026.
ICC chairman Jay Shah called the venue announcement a "defining moment" for the tournament.
"The confirmation of venues represents a defining moment as we build towards the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. This tournament will bring together the world’s finest players in a celebration of skill, spirit and sportsmanship" Shah said as quoted in a press release issued by the ICC.
"The United Kingdom's rich diversity has always shown passionate support for all teams, something we witnessed so memorably at past events. 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," he added.
Shah sees the event as a stepping stone to promote the sport globally, especially because of cricket's inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics.
"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."
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History of Women's T20 World Cup
Since its inception in 2009, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup has become a cornerstone of women’s cricket, showcasing top talent in the sport.
Held every one to two years, the tournament has completed nine editions, with Australia leading as six-time champions, followed by single titles for England, New Zealand, and the West Indies.
In the final last year, New Zealand defeated South Africa by 32 runs to lift the trophy.
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