The Women’s T20 Blast 2026 brings exciting county cricket action to England this summer. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) runs this T20 competition. Nine teams will compete in the Tier 1 tournament from May 22 to July 17, 2026.
Surrey won the first-ever Women’s Vitality Blast Finals Day in 2025. They begin their title defense at home against Lancashire Thunder on the opening day. The ECB made several changes to the competition format after a county-led review. These changes aim to provide players with better rest between matches and increase fan attendance.
Women’s T20 Blast 2026 At A Glance
The ECB released the 2026 fixtures in November 2025. The tournament features 54 group-stage matches across nine teams. Yorkshire joins Tier 1 for the first time this season. The Finals Day will host four teams instead of three.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament Format | T20 (Group Stage + Semi-Finals + Final) |
| Number of Teams | 9 Teams (Tier 1) |
| Total Group Matches | 54 Matches (12 per team) |
| Tournament Dates | May 22 to July 17, 2026 |
| Finals Day Venue | The Kia Oval, London |
| Finals Day Date | Friday, July 17, 2026 |
| Defending Champions | Surrey Women |
| Double Headers | 41 out of 54 group matches |
| New Team in Tier 1 | Yorkshire Women (first season) |
Women’s T20 Blast 2026 Participating Teams
Nine county teams will compete in the Women’s Vitality Blast Tier 1 competition. Yorkshire makes its first appearance at this level in 2026.
| No. | Team Name | Home Ground |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham Women | Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street |
| 2 | Essex Women | Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford |
| 3 | Hampshire Women | Utilita Bowl, Southampton |
| 4 | Lancashire Thunder | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester |
| 5 | Somerset Women | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton |
| 6 | Surrey Women | The Kia Oval, London |
| 7 | The Blaze | Trent Bridge, Nottingham |
| 8 | Warwickshire Women | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| 9 | Yorkshire Women | Headingley, Leeds |
Women’s T20 Blast 2026: Full Match Schedule
The tournament runs from May 22 to July 17, 2026. Each team plays 12 group-stage matches. Six matches at home and six away. Most matches start at 11:00 AM local time (10:00 AM GMT). Below is the complete schedule:
| Match | Date | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | May 22, 2026 | Essex vs Warwickshire | Chelmsford |
| 2nd | May 22, 2026 | Surrey vs Lancashire | The Oval |
| 3rd | May 22, 2026 | Somerset vs Hampshire | Taunton |
| 4th | May 22, 2026 | The Blaze vs Yorkshire | Nottingham |
| 5th | May 24, 2026 | Durham vs Hampshire | Chester-le-Street |
| 6th | May 24, 2026 | Warwickshire vs Somerset | Birmingham |
| 7th | May 24, 2026 | Yorkshire vs Surrey | Leeds |
| 8th | May 25, 2026 | Lancashire vs The Blaze | Manchester |
| 9th | May 26, 2026 | Hampshire vs Essex | Southampton |
| 10th | May 27, 2026 | Warwickshire vs The Blaze | Birmingham |
| 11th | May 27, 2026 | Surrey vs Durham | The Oval |
| 12th | May 27, 2026 | Somerset vs Yorkshire | Taunton |
| 13th | May 29, 2026 | Durham vs Warwickshire | Chester-le-Street |
| 14th | May 29, 2026 | Lancashire vs Somerset | Manchester |
| 15th | May 29, 2026 | Yorkshire vs Essex | Leeds |
| 16th | May 29, 2026 | Hampshire vs Surrey | Southampton |
| 17th | May 31, 2026 | Essex vs Lancashire | Chelmsford |
| 18th | May 31, 2026 | Surrey vs Somerset | The Oval |
| 19th | May 31, 2026 | The Blaze vs Durham | Nottingham |
| 20th | Jun 5, 2026 | Yorkshire vs Durham | Leeds |
| 21st | Jun 5, 2026 | Surrey vs Essex | The Oval |
| 22nd | Jun 5, 2026 | The Blaze vs Warwickshire | Nottingham |
| 23rd | Jun 7, 2026 | Essex vs Hampshire | Chelmsford |
| 24th | Jun 7, 2026 | Somerset vs Warwickshire | Taunton |
| 25th | Jun 7, 2026 | The Blaze vs Lancashire | Nottingham |
| 26th | Jun 9, 2026 | Durham vs Yorkshire | Chester-le-Street |
| 27th | Jun 9, 2026 | Lancashire vs Hampshire | Blackpool |
| 28th | Jun 26, 2026 | Warwickshire vs Surrey | Birmingham |
| 29th | Jun 26, 2026 | Somerset vs Durham | Taunton |
| 30th | Jun 26, 2026 | Hampshire vs Yorkshire | Southampton |
| 31st | Jun 28, 2026 | Essex vs The Blaze | Chelmsford |
| 32nd | Jun 28, 2026 | Lancashire vs Warwickshire | Blackpool |
| 33rd | Jun 28, 2026 | Somerset vs Surrey | Taunton |
| 34th | Jun 28, 2026 | Hampshire vs Durham | Southampton |
| 35th | Jul 1, 2026 | Warwickshire vs Essex | Birmingham |
| 36th | Jul 1, 2026 | Yorkshire vs Lancashire | Leeds |
| 37th | Jul 3, 2026 | Durham vs Lancashire | Chester-le-Street |
| 38th | Jul 3, 2026 | Yorkshire vs Somerset | Leeds |
| 39th | Jul 3, 2026 | The Blaze vs Surrey | Nottingham |
| 40th | Jul 5, 2026 | Essex vs Surrey | Chelmsford |
| 41st | Jul 5, 2026 | Durham vs The Blaze | Chester-le-Street |
| 42nd | Jul 5, 2026 | Warwickshire vs Yorkshire | Birmingham |
| 43rd | Jul 5, 2026 | Hampshire vs Lancashire | Southampton |
| 44th | Jul 7, 2026 | Essex vs Somerset | Chelmsford |
| 45th | Jul 8, 2026 | Surrey vs Warwickshire | The Oval |
| 46th | Jul 8, 2026 | Hampshire vs The Blaze | Southampton |
| 47th | Jul 10, 2026 | Durham vs Essex | Chester-le-Street |
| 48th | Jul 10, 2026 | Warwickshire vs Hampshire | Birmingham |
| 49th | Jul 10, 2026 | Lancashire vs Yorkshire | Manchester |
| 50th | Jul 10, 2026 | The Blaze vs Somerset | Nottingham |
| 51st | Jul 12, 2026 | Lancashire vs Durham | Manchester |
| 52nd | Jul 12, 2026 | Yorkshire vs The Blaze | Leeds |
| 53rd | Jul 12, 2026 | Surrey vs Hampshire | The Oval |
| 54th | Jul 12, 2026 | Somerset vs Essex | Taunton |
Women’s T20 Blast 2026: Knockout Stage Schedule
The top four teams from the group stage qualify for Finals Day. The ECB expanded Finals Day from three teams to four for the 2026 season. Both semi-finals and the final take place on the same day.
| Match | Date | Time (GMT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Semi-Final | July 17, 2026 | 10:00 AM | The Kia Oval |
| 2nd Semi-Final | July 17, 2026 | 10:00 AM | The Kia Oval |
| Final | July 17, 2026 | 1:30 PM | The Kia Oval |
Key Fixtures to Watch
The 2026 season brings several special matches. Yorkshire plays its first Tier 1 season. The historic Roses rivalry takes center stage on July 10 at Emirates Old Trafford.
| Match | Date | Venue | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey vs Lancashire | May 22, 2026 | The Oval | Champions begin title defense |
| The Blaze vs Yorkshire | May 22, 2026 | Nottingham | Yorkshire’s first Tier 1 match |
| Lancashire vs Yorkshire | Jul 10, 2026 | Manchester | First Roses rivalry in Tier 1 |
| Hampshire vs Yorkshire | Jun 26, 2026 | Southampton | First-ever meeting between both teams |
Live Streaming and Broadcast Guide
Fans can watch Women’s T20 Blast matches through several platforms. The streaming options depend on your region.
Sky Sports holds the main broadcast rights for county cricket in the UK. They will show selected matches live. The ECB website and the England Cricket YouTube channel stream some fixtures for free. Individual county websites may also offer live streams for home matches.
BBC Sport covers highlights and updates throughout the tournament. International fans can check the ECB website for streaming options in their region. Some counties partner with local broadcasters for additional coverage.
| Platform | Region | Coverage Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports | UK & Ireland | Live Broadcast |
| ECB Website | Worldwide | Free Streaming (selected) |
| England Cricket YouTube | Worldwide | Free Streaming (selected) |
| County Websites | UK | Home Match Streams |
| BBC Sport | UK | Highlights & Updates |
Ticket Details and Booking Info
Tickets for the 2026 Women’s T20 Blast will go on sale in spring 2026. Many counties sell season tickets and membership packages before general sale opens. Contact your local county cricket club for early booking options.
Women’s matches often take place as double headers with men’s games. One ticket usually covers both matches on double header days. This offers great value for cricket fans.
Finals Day tickets at The Kia Oval sell quickly. Register your interest on the ECB website to receive updates. The ECB may run a ballot for Finals Day due to high demand.
| County | Ticket Website |
|---|---|
| Durham | tickets.durhamcricket.co.uk |
| Essex | tickets.essexcricket.org.uk |
| Hampshire | tickets.utilitabowl.com |
| Lancashire | tickets.lancashirecricket.co.uk |
| Nottinghamshire (The Blaze) | trentbridge.co.uk |
| Somerset | tickets.somersetcountycc.co.uk |
| Surrey | tickets.surreycricket.com |
| Warwickshire | edgbaston.com |
| Yorkshire | tickets.yorkshireccc.com |
Women’s T20 Blast 2026: Venue Guide
The tournament takes place across nine county grounds in England. Each venue offers a different atmosphere and setting for cricket fans.
1. The Kia Oval, London (Finals Day Venue)
The Kia Oval hosts Finals Day on July 17, 2026. This historic ground sits in Kennington, South London. It hosted the first-ever Test match in England back in 1880. The ground holds around 25,500 fans. Surrey Women play their home matches here throughout the season.
The 2025 Women’s Finals Day at The Kia Oval drew a record crowd for women’s county T20 cricket. The venue offers excellent facilities, easy transport links, and a lively atmosphere for cricket fans.
2. Trent Bridge, Nottingham
The Blaze call Trent Bridge home. This ground opened in 1841 and hosts international cricket regularly. The venue holds about 17,500 spectators.
The ground features modern facilities while keeping its traditional charm. Trent Bridge sits close to Nottingham city center.
3. Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Lancashire Thunder play at Emirates Old Trafford. The ground holds around 26,000 fans and hosts international matches.
The historic Roses derby between Lancashire and Yorkshire takes place here on July 10, 2026. This marks the first Roses rivalry in the Women’s Tier 1 competition.
4. Edgbaston, Birmingham
Warwickshire Women play at Edgbaston. The ground has a capacity of about 25,000. Edgbaston hosts the Men’s Finals Day on July 18, 2026.
The venue offers a great atmosphere and modern facilities. It sits close to Birmingham city center with good transport links.
5. Utilita Bowl, Southampton
Hampshire Women play at the Utilita Bowl. The ground welcomed record crowds for women’s T20 in 2025. The venue holds around 25,000 spectators and hosts five doubleheaders in 2026.
The Utilita Bowl won the Best Spectator Experience award at the 2025 Business of Cricket Awards.
What Changed in 2026?
The ECB made several changes to the Women’s T20 Blast for 2026. A county-led review shaped these updates. The changes aim to improve player welfare and fan experience.
Group matches dropped from 14 to 12 per team. This reduces travel and gives players more rest between games. Yorkshire joined Tier 1 for the first time, bringing the total to nine teams. Finals Day now features four teams instead of three. About 41 of the 54 group matches are doubleheaders with men’s games.
ECB Managing Director Neil Snowball explained the reasoning. He said the changes benefit fans and players alike. Every county now hosts at least one men’s and women’s doubleheader. The knockout stages follow right after group matches. This creates a clearer storyline for fans to follow throughout the tournament.
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Wrapping Up: Women’s T20 Blast 2026 Begins On May 22!
The Women’s T20 Blast 2026 promises exciting county cricket across England. Nine teams will battle for the title from May 22 to July 17. Surrey entered as defending champions after winning the first-ever Finals Day in 2025.
Yorkshire’s arrival in Tier 1 adds fresh excitement. The Roses rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire on July 10 will draw plenty of attention. The expanded four-team Finals Day at The Kia Oval on July 17 caps off the tournament.
Fans should mark their calendars for the opening weekend. Four matches kick off the action on May 22, 2026. Check county websites for ticket updates as they become available in spring 2026.
