The Hundred Schedule: Cricket fans across the world are gearing up for another exciting edition of England’s innovative short-format competition after the official The Hundred schedule for 2026 was unveiled. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the tournament will run from July 21 to August 16, 2026, bringing together top international stars, emerging talents, and some of the biggest names in both men’s and women’s cricket.
The upcoming season is particularly significant because it will be the first edition of the tournament following the sale of stakes in all eight franchises to external investors. The new ownership structure is expected to increase the financial strength of the competition, attract global players, and expand the tournament’s international reach.
With a dedicated window in England’s international calendar, both the men’s and women’s competitions will enjoy full player availability during the tournament period. This ensures that fans will see many of the sport’s leading players competing throughout the month-long event.
This detailed guide covers everything fans need to know about The Hundred schedule, including fixtures, match timings, teams, venues, tournament structure, player contracts, and other major changes introduced for the 2026 season.
Overview of The Hundred 2026 Tournament
The Hundred was launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board to create a fast-paced, fan-friendly version of cricket designed to appeal to both traditional followers and new audiences. Each team faces 100 balls per innings, making matches shorter and more intense than traditional T20 contests.
The tournament includes eight city-based franchises competing in separate men’s and women’s competitions that follow the same structure and schedule.
Key Tournament Details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | The Hundred 2026 |
| Format | 100-ball cricket |
| Start Date | July 21, 2026 |
| Final | August 16, 2026 |
| Teams | 8 franchises |
| Matches | Double-header format |
| Final Venue | Lord’s Cricket Ground |
| Organiser | England and Wales Cricket Board |
The double-header system means that women’s matches take place before the men’s fixtures at the same venue, allowing fans to enjoy two matches in a single ticketed event.
Exclusive Window in England’s Cricket Calendar
One of the most important aspects of the The Hundred schedule for 2026 is its protected window within England’s international cricket calendar.
The tournament will take place during a period when the national team is largely free from international commitments. This scheduling decision ensures that top English players and international stars can participate throughout the competition.
However, the international schedule resumes quickly after the tournament concludes. England’s men’s team will begin a three-Test series against Pakistan at Headingley on August 19, only two and a half days after The Hundred final takes place at Lord’s.
A similar tight turnaround occurred in the 2025 season, when the final was played just one day before England faced South Africa in an ODI.
Despite the busy international calendar, the ECB believes that the dedicated window will help maintain strong player availability and high-quality competition.
New Franchise Ownership and Financial Growth
The 2026 season marks the first edition of the tournament after external investors purchased stakes in the eight franchises.
The new investment is expected to bring several benefits:
- Higher player salaries
- Increased global marketing
- Better infrastructure and fan engagement
- Stronger competition for international players
The financial boost has already led to significant increases in player contracts, making The Hundred one of the most lucrative cricket leagues outside the Indian Premier League.
Major Team Name Changes for 2026
Another major highlight in the The Hundred schedule announcement is the introduction of several new franchise names.
Three teams have undergone rebranding ahead of the new season.
Updated Franchise Names
| Previous Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Oval Invincibles | MI London |
| Northern Superchargers | Sunrisers Leeds |
| Manchester Originals | Manchester Super Giants |
These rebrandings reflect the involvement of global cricket franchises that have invested in the teams, bringing international brand recognition to the competition.
Player Contracts and Pre-Auction Signings
Before the official auctions were held, each franchise was allowed to sign eight players directly, consisting of:
- 4 male players
- 4 female players
This allowed teams to secure key players before the main auction.
One of the most notable deals was signed by England star Harry Brook, who secured a contract worth nearly £500,000 with Sunrisers Leeds, highlighting the growing financial power of the league.
Several other England Test regulars also signed pre-auction deals.
Key Players Signed Before the Auction
| 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 demonstrate the tournament’s ability to attract elite players while also giving young talent the opportunity to compete alongside experienced internationals.
Player Salary Caps for 2026
To maintain competitive balance, the ECB has implemented salary caps for each franchise.
Salary Cap Structure
| Squad Type | Salary Cap |
|---|---|
| Men’s Squad (16 players) | £2.05 million |
| Women’s Squad (16 players) | £880,000 |
Teams must build their squads within these financial limits.
Overseas Player Rule Changes
Another important update in the The Hundred schedule announcement is the change to overseas player rules.
Teams can now include up to four overseas players in their playing XI, compared to three in previous seasons.
This change is expected to increase the presence of international stars and make the tournament more competitive and globally appealing.
The Hundred 2026 Full Schedule (Men’s Competition)
Below is the complete men’s fixture list for the 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 |
The Hundred 2026 Full Schedule (Women’s Competition)
The women’s competition follows the same structure and venues 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
One of the most important scheduling improvements for 2026 is the addition of a reserve day for the Eliminator match, which is played between the second and third teams in the standings.
This decision was made after previous seasons experienced disruptions due to rain:
- 2023 Women’s Eliminator was affected by weather
- 2025 Men’s Eliminator also saw rain interruptions
The new reserve day ensures that the knockout match will produce a definitive result.
Tournament Format
The format of the tournament remains unchanged.
Competition Structure
- Each team plays eight league matches
- The top team qualifies directly for the final
- Teams finishing second and third play the Eliminator
- The Eliminator winner advances to the final
Final Match at Lord’s
The iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground will once again host the final of The Hundred.
Lord’s has become synonymous with the tournament’s biggest moments, and the venue is expected to attract a full house for the championship match on August 16, 2026.
Also Read: Gujarat Titans Appoint Matthew Hayden as Batting Coach Ahead of IPL 2026 Season
Why The Hundred Continues to Grow
The tournament has grown rapidly since its launch.
Several factors contribute to its popularity:
- Fast-paced format
- Equal promotion of men’s and women’s cricket
- Family-friendly match experience
- Global star players
- Competitive franchise structure
The release of the The Hundred schedule for 2026 signals another step forward in the league’s development.
Also Read: IPL Schedule 2026 Announced: RCB vs Sunrisers Hyderabad to Kick Off the Season
Conclusion
The announcement of The Hundred schedule for 2026 has set the stage for another thrilling summer of cricket in England.
Running from July 21 to August 16, the tournament will feature eight franchises competing across both men’s and women’s competitions. With new investors, increased salaries, rebranded teams, and a carefully planned schedule, the 2026 season promises to deliver high-quality cricket and unforgettable moments for fans.
From the opening match at The Oval to the grand final at Lord’s, The Hundred continues to strengthen its place as one of the most exciting and innovative tournaments in world cricket.
