The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final is held on Sunday 5 July 2026 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. The match is the closing act of the tenth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, hosted in England and Wales, with the title and the trophy decided over a single 20-over innings per side.
What is the Women’s T20 World Cup Final?
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is the global Twenty20 championship for national women’s cricket teams. It is organised by the International Cricket Council and held every two years. Each edition features a group stage followed by knockout semi-finals and a final, with 12 nations competing in the 2026 tournament. The final determines the world champion and the holder of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy for the next two-year cycle.
The tournament runs from 12 June to 5 July 2026 across seven venues in England and Wales, ending with the final at Lord’s. Australia enter as the defending champions and the dominant force in the women’s game, having won six of the previous nine editions.
How the final works
The final is a single Twenty20 international, with each team batting a maximum of 20 overs. In the event of a tie, the match is decided by a Super Over, a one-over per side shootout. The winning captain lifts the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy at Lord’s following the match.
When is the Women’s T20 World Cup Final?
The 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final is held on Sunday 5 July 2026. Play begins in the early afternoon British Summer Time, with the toss scheduled around an hour before the first ball. A full day/night format is used, with play typically running from about 2:30pm BST through to around 9:30pm local time. Reserve day provisions are in place if weather disrupts the scheduled day.
Where is the Women’s T20 World Cup Final?
The final is staged at Lord’s Cricket Ground in St John’s Wood, north-west London. Lord’s is widely known as the Home of Cricket and is owned and operated by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). It has a capacity of around 31,100 and is the most historic cricket venue in the world, dating back to 1814. The pavilion, the Long Room and the famous honours boards make Lord’s one of the sport’s most distinctive settings, and a full house is expected for the final.
Key Contenders
Australia go into the tournament as favourites on the strength of their record in ICC events. Captained by Alyssa Healy in recent years, they have built a generation of all-time greats including Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning (before her retirement), and consistently set the standard in women’s limited overs cricket. Their run of six T20 World Cup titles includes victories in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023.
England, the host nation, will be among the primary challengers, backed by home conditions and headlined by players such as Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s leading T20 bowler. India will once again arrive as serious title contenders after their near miss in 2020, and New Zealand enter as the defending champions after their 2024 victory in the UAE. South Africa, the losing finalists in 2023, remain dangerous, and West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka can cause upsets in T20 cricket’s shorter format.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final is broadcast live and free-to-air on BBC Sport, with coverage on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. Sky Sports also holds rights, with live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket via subscription. In India, the match is shown live on Star Sports and streamed on Disney+ Hotstar. In Australia, coverage is available on Prime Video. In the United States, ESPN+ carries live streaming. The match is distributed globally via ICC broadcast partners.
History and Records
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was first held in 2009 in England and was won by the hosts, captained by Charlotte Edwards. Australia went on to dominate the competition, winning six of the nine editions through 2023. New Zealand won the 2024 tournament in the UAE, their first title, beating South Africa in the final. England’s 2009 success remains their only title to date.
The highest score in a final came when Australia posted 186 for 5 against England in 2020, a Melbourne Cricket Ground record crowd of 86,174 witnessing the match. The leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup finals is Sophie Ecclestone, and the leading run-scorer across T20 World Cup history is Suzie Bates of New Zealand. The 2026 final at Lord’s will be the first Women’s T20 World Cup Final at the venue.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup Final are sold via the official ICC Women’s T20 World Cup ticketing website and via MCC members for reserved Pavilion seats. Prices are banded by stand, with premium seating in the Mound Stand, Compton Stand and Edrich Stand attracting the highest prices. Concession tickets for children and families are available across the tournament. Demand for the final at Lord’s is expected to be very high, with sell-out crowds in every stand.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup Final?
The final is held on Sunday 5 July 2026, with play starting in the early afternoon British Summer Time.
Where is the Women’s T20 World Cup Final being played?
At Lord’s Cricket Ground in St John’s Wood, London.
How can I watch the Women’s T20 World Cup Final?
Live and free on BBC Sport in the UK, on Sky Sports Cricket, on Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar in India, on Prime Video in Australia and on ESPN+ in the US.
Who are the defending champions?
New Zealand are the defending champions after winning the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, beating South Africa in the final.
How many Women’s T20 World Cups has Australia won?
Australia has won six Women’s T20 World Cups, the most of any nation, with titles in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023.