The England and Wales Cricket Board has officially released The Hundred schedule for the 2026 season, giving cricket fans a clear look at what promises to be another thrilling summer of short-format cricket in England. The upcoming edition of the tournament will take place from July 21 to August 16, 2026, featuring the world’s best cricketers competing across both men’s and women’s competitions.
Since its launch, The Hundred has become one of the most popular modern cricket tournaments, attracting large crowds, global television audiences, and some of the sport’s biggest stars. The 2026 edition is expected to take the competition to an even higher level as several major structural changes have been introduced ahead of the new season.
One of the most notable developments surrounding The Hundred schedule this year is that the tournament will be the first to be held after outside investors acquired stakes in all eight franchises. This new ownership model has already brought increased investment, higher player salaries, and a renewed focus on expanding the competition’s global reach.
The schedule also confirms that the tournament will again enjoy a dedicated window in England’s international cricket calendar, ensuring that most of the country’s leading players are available throughout the competition.
This detailed guide explains everything fans need to know about The Hundred schedule for 2026, including the full list of fixtures, teams, venues, format, player rules, and the major updates introduced ahead of the new season.
Overview of The Hundred 2026 Tournament
The Hundred is a unique cricket format where each innings consists of 100 deliveries, making it shorter than traditional T20 cricket while still maintaining intense competition between teams.
The tournament features eight city-based franchises representing different regions of England and Wales. Each franchise fields a men’s team and a women’s team, both competing in parallel tournaments.
One of the defining features of the event is its double-header match structure. Every matchday includes two games at the same venue, with the women’s match taking place first, followed immediately by the men’s fixture involving the same franchises.
Key Details of The Hundred 2026
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | The Hundred 2026 |
| Format | 100-ball cricket |
| Start Date | July 21, 2026 |
| Final Date | August 16, 2026 |
| Number of Teams | 8 |
| Competitions | Men’s and Women’s |
| Organiser | England and Wales Cricket Board |
| Final Venue | Lord’s Cricket Ground |
The structure allows fans attending matches to enjoy two high-quality games in one ticket, which has been a major factor behind the tournament’s growing popularity.
Exclusive Window for The Hundred
The newly released The Hundred schedule confirms that the competition will once again occupy a dedicated period within England’s cricket calendar.
This scheduling ensures that the majority of England’s international players can participate in the tournament without conflicts with national duties. The ECB has intentionally structured the calendar to give the competition maximum visibility during the summer.
However, the international calendar resumes quickly after the tournament concludes. England’s men’s team is scheduled to begin a three-match Test series against Pakistan on August 19 at Headingley, just two and a half days after the final of The Hundred takes place.
A similar situation occurred in the previous season, when England’s international team returned to action almost immediately after the tournament finished.
Despite the tight timeline, the protected window is expected to guarantee strong participation from England’s leading players as well as overseas stars.
Investment Boost for The Hundred
The 2026 edition of the tournament marks an important milestone because it is the first season after the sale of franchise stakes to private investors.
This development has significantly increased the financial power of the league and is expected to improve several aspects of the tournament, including:
- Higher player salaries
- Expanded marketing and global promotion
- Increased fan engagement
- Improved team infrastructure
The investment has already had a noticeable impact on player contracts, with several players securing lucrative deals ahead of the season.
Franchise Rebranding Ahead of the New Season
Another key update revealed alongside The Hundred schedule is the rebranding of several teams. Three franchises have adopted new names before the start of the 2026 season.
Updated Team Names
| Old Franchise Name | New Franchise Name |
|---|---|
| Oval Invincibles | MI London |
| Northern Superchargers | Sunrisers Leeds |
| Manchester Originals | Manchester Super Giants |
These name changes reflect the involvement of global cricket brands that have purchased ownership stakes in the franchises.
The rebranding is expected to help the tournament attract new audiences and strengthen its international profile.
Player Retentions Before the Auction
Ahead of the official player auctions, each franchise was permitted to secure eight players through direct signings.
Each team selected:
- Four male players
- Four female players
This system allowed teams to retain key players and establish the core of their squads before entering the auction.
One of the most significant deals involved England star Harry Brook, who signed a contract with Sunrisers Leeds reportedly worth close to £500,000.
This deal highlights the rising financial value of the tournament as investment continues to grow.
Several other England internationals also secured contracts before the auction.
Notable Pre-Auction Signings
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Harry Brook | Sunrisers Leeds |
| Ben Duckett | Trent Rockets |
| Jacob Bethell | Birmingham Phoenix |
| Jofra Archer | Southern Brave |
| Jamie Smith | Southern Brave |
| Brydon Carse | Sunrisers Leeds |
These signings have ensured that many of England’s most exciting players will feature prominently during the tournament.
Salary Cap Rules for Teams
To maintain competitive balance between franchises, a salary cap system is used for both competitions.
Team Salary Limits
| Squad Category | Salary Cap |
|---|---|
| Men’s Squad (16 players) | £2.05 million |
| Women’s Squad (16 players) | £880,000 |
Each franchise must construct its squad while staying within these financial limits.
The salary caps are designed to ensure that all teams have equal opportunities to build strong squads while preventing wealthier franchises from dominating the player market.
Overseas Player Limit Increased
A new rule introduced for the 2026 edition allows teams to field up to four overseas players in their starting lineup.
In previous seasons, teams were limited to three international players in the playing XI.
This change is expected to increase the number of global stars participating in the tournament and make the competition even more competitive.
It also strengthens the international appeal of the league, as fans around the world will see more players from different cricketing nations involved.
Opening Match of the Tournament
According to The Hundred schedule, the tournament will begin on July 21, 2026, with MI London facing Sunrisers Leeds at The Oval in London.
The opening match is expected to draw significant attention as both teams feature several high-profile players.
Interestingly, the opening game will take place just two days after England hosts India in a One Day International at the same venue.
This creates an exciting week of cricket for fans in London.
Complete The Hundred 2026 Men’s Fixtures
Below is the full list of matches for the men’s tournament.
| Date | Time | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | MI London | Sunrisers Leeds | The Oval |
| 22 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | Southern Brave | Welsh Fire | Southampton |
| 23 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | London Spirit | Manchester Super Giants | Lord’s |
| 24 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | Birmingham Phoenix | Trent Rockets | Birmingham |
| 25 July 2026 | 7:00 PM | Sunrisers Leeds | Southern Brave | Leeds |
| 25 July 2026 | 10:30 PM | Welsh Fire | MI London | Cardiff |
| 26 July 2026 | 7:00 PM | Manchester Super Giants | Birmingham Phoenix | Manchester |
| 26 July 2026 | 10:30 PM | Trent Rockets | London Spirit | Nottingham |
| 27 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | Southern Brave | MI London | Southampton |
| 28 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | Sunrisers Leeds | Manchester Super Giants | Leeds |
| 29 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | Welsh Fire | Trent Rockets | Cardiff |
| 29 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | MI London | London Spirit | The Oval |
| 30 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | Southern Brave | Birmingham Phoenix | Southampton |
| 31 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | Manchester Super Giants | Trent Rockets | Manchester |
| 1 August 2026 | 7:00 PM | Birmingham Phoenix | Welsh Fire | Birmingham |
| 1 August 2026 | 10:30 PM | London Spirit | Southern Brave | Lord’s |
| 2 August 2026 | 7:00 PM | Trent Rockets | Sunrisers Leeds | Nottingham |
| 2 August 2026 | 10:30 PM | MI London | Manchester Super Giants | The Oval |
| 3 August 2026 | 11:00 PM | Welsh Fire | Southern Brave | Cardiff |
| 4 August 2026 | 11:00 PM | Sunrisers Leeds | London Spirit | Leeds |
| 5 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Manchester Super Giants | Welsh Fire | Manchester |
| 5 August 2026 | 11:00 PM | Trent Rockets | Birmingham Phoenix | Nottingham |
| 6 August 2026 | 11:00 PM | London Spirit | MI London | Lord’s |
| 7 August 2026 | 11:00 PM | Birmingham Phoenix | Sunrisers Leeds | Birmingham |
| 8 August 2026 | 7:00 PM | MI London | Trent Rockets | The Oval |
| 8 August 2026 | 10:30 PM | Southern Brave | Manchester Super Giants | Southampton |
| 9 August 2026 | 7:00 PM | Sunrisers Leeds | Welsh Fire | Leeds |
| 9 August 2026 | 10:30 PM | London Spirit | Birmingham Phoenix | Lord’s |
| 10 August 2026 | 11:00 PM | Trent Rockets | Southern Brave | Nottingham |
| 11 August 2026 | 11:00 PM | Manchester Super Giants | Sunrisers Leeds | Manchester |
| 12 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Welsh Fire | London Spirit | Cardiff |
| 12 August 2026 | 11:00 PM | Birmingham Phoenix | MI London | Birmingham |
| 14 August 2026 | 10:30 PM | Eliminator | TBC | TBC |
| 16 August 2026 | 10:30 PM | Final | Finalists | Lord’s |
Complete The Hundred 2026 Women’s Fixtures
The women’s competition follows the same venues and teams as the men’s tournament.
| Date | Time | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 July 2026 | 7:15 PM | MI London Women | Sunrisers Leeds Women | The Oval |
| 22 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | Southern Brave Women | Welsh Fire Women | Southampton |
| 23 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | London Spirit Women | Manchester Super Giants Women | Lord’s |
| 24 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | Birmingham Phoenix Women | Trent Rockets Women | Birmingham |
| 25 July 2026 | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Leeds Women | Southern Brave Women | Leeds |
| 25 July 2026 | 7:00 PM | Welsh Fire Women | MI London Women | Cardiff |
| 26 July 2026 | 3:30 PM | Manchester Super Giants Women | Birmingham Phoenix Women | Manchester |
| 26 July 2026 | 7:00 PM | Trent Rockets Women | London Spirit Women | Nottingham |
| 27 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | Southern Brave Women | MI London Women | Southampton |
| 28 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Leeds Women | Manchester Super Giants Women | Leeds |
| 29 July 2026 | 4:00 PM | Welsh Fire Women | Trent Rockets Women | Cardiff |
| 29 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | MI London Women | London Spirit Women | The Oval |
| 30 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | Southern Brave Women | Birmingham Phoenix Women | Southampton |
| 31 July 2026 | 7:30 PM | Manchester Super Giants Women | Trent Rockets Women | Manchester |
| 1 August 2026 | 3:30 PM | Birmingham Phoenix Women | Welsh Fire Women | Birmingham |
| 1 August 2026 | 7:00 PM | London Spirit Women | Southern Brave Women | Lord’s |
| 2 August 2026 | 3:30 PM | Trent Rockets Women | Sunrisers Leeds Women | Nottingham |
| 2 August 2026 | 7:00 PM | MI London Women | Manchester Super Giants Women | The Oval |
| 3 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Welsh Fire Women | Southern Brave Women | Cardiff |
| 4 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Leeds Women | London Spirit Women | Leeds |
| 5 August 2026 | 4:00 PM | Manchester Super Giants Women | Welsh Fire Women | Manchester |
| 5 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Trent Rockets Women | Birmingham Phoenix Women | Nottingham |
| 6 August 2026 | 6:30 PM | London Spirit Women | MI London Women | Lord’s |
| 7 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Birmingham Phoenix Women | Sunrisers Leeds Women | Birmingham |
| 8 August 2026 | 3:30 PM | MI London Women | Trent Rockets Women | The Oval |
| 8 August 2026 | 7:00 PM | Southern Brave Women | Manchester Super Giants Women | Southampton |
| 9 August 2026 | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Leeds Women | Welsh Fire Women | Leeds |
| 9 August 2026 | 7:00 PM | London Spirit Women | Birmingham Phoenix Women | Lord’s |
| 10 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Trent Rockets Women | Southern Brave Women | Nottingham |
| 11 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Manchester Super Giants Women | Sunrisers Leeds Women | Manchester |
| 12 August 2026 | 4:00 PM | Welsh Fire Women | London Spirit Women | Cardiff |
| 12 August 2026 | 7:30 PM | Birmingham Phoenix Women | MI London Women | Birmingham |
| 14 August 2026 | 6:45 PM | Eliminator | TBC | TBC |
| 16 August 2026 | 6:45 PM | Final | Finalists | Lord’s |
Introduction of Eliminator Reserve Day
A notable update included in The Hundred schedule for 2026 is the addition of a reserve day for the Eliminator match.
This decision follows previous seasons where rain disrupted knockout matches, particularly:
- The women’s Eliminator in 2023
- The men’s Eliminator in 2025
The new reserve day ensures that the match between the second and third placed teams will produce a clear winner.
Tournament Format Explained
The structure of the tournament remains simple and competitive.
Each team plays eight league matches during the group stage.
After the league stage:
- The team finishing first in the standings qualifies directly for the final.
- The teams finishing second and third compete in the Eliminator.
- The Eliminator winner advances to the championship match.
This format rewards the top team for consistent performance while still giving other teams a chance to reach the final.
Final at Lord’s Cricket Ground
The grand finale of the tournament will once again take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
Often referred to as the “Home of Cricket,” Lord’s has hosted several memorable matches in previous editions of The Hundred.
The 2026 final, scheduled for August 16, is expected to attract thousands of fans and a global television audience.
Growing Popularity of The Hundred
Since its introduction, The Hundred has transformed the way cricket is presented to audiences. The fast-paced nature of the format, combined with family-friendly matchday experiences, has helped attract new fans to the sport.
Several factors have contributed to the competition’s rapid growth:
- Shorter match duration
- Equal promotion of men’s and women’s cricket
- High-profile international players
- Strong franchise identities
- Large stadium attendances
With the announcement of The Hundred schedule for the 2026 season, excitement is building for another month of entertaining cricket.
Also Read: The Hundred Auction 2026: Historic Player Deals and Record Signings Reshape Team Squads
Conclusion
The release of The Hundred schedule for 2026 has set the stage for one of the most anticipated cricket tournaments of the year. Running from July 21 to August 16, the competition will feature eight franchises competing in both men’s and women’s events across England and Wales.
With new investors, rebranded teams, increased salaries, and an improved tournament structure, the 2026 edition promises to deliver thrilling matches and unforgettable moments for cricket fans around the world.
From the opening clash at The Oval to the championship final at Lord’s, the upcoming season of The Hundred is set to be another landmark chapter in the tournament’s growing history.
