ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: With only eight days to go for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, the buzz is slowly increasing among the fans. All eyes will be on Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian team, who won their maiden 50-over World Cup last year and are now chasing their first T20 World Cup trophy. At the same time, the likes of Australia, South Africa and especially England, who are the hosts will prove to be tough contenders for the title.
Lord’s Cricket Ground, known as the Home of Cricket, will host four games, including the final. It is also the second time that England are hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, having staged the inaugural edition in 2009.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: What are the venues of the tournament?
| Venue | Number of Matches to be hosted |
| County Ground, Bristol | 6 |
| Edgbaston, Birmingham | 4 |
| Headingley, Leeds | 5 |
| Kennington Oval or Kia Oval, London | 3 |
| Lord’s, London | 4 |
| Old Trafford, Manchester | 5 |
| Rose Bowl, Southampton | 6 |
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Who are the defending champions?
New Zealand are the defending Champions, having beaten South Africa in the final of the 2024 edition in Dubai. Neverthless, the White Ferns’ recent form will be a concern, given they lost the T20I series to England, headlined by being bowled out for 80 in the final T20I of the series. The Women in Blue have also struggled in recent times, having lost the series to South Africa and England comprehensively despite having a full-strength squad.
Here are the list of winners of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
| Year | Winner |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2009 | England |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2010 | Australia |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2012 | Australia |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2014 | Australia |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2016 | West Indies |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2018 | Australia |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 | Australia |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 | Australia |
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 | New Zealand |
South Africa, meanwhile, will be keen to right their wrongs of the last two ICC’s finals as they lost to New Zealand and India, respectively, denying themselves back-to-back global titles. Australia, serial winners and who have won the T20 World Cup six times, will have a point to prove after finishing as semi-finalists in the last two ICC tournaments. The Women in Yellow will be bereft of Alyssa Healy’s experience as the keeper-batter retired from international cricket earlier this year.
