Loughborough to host warm-up games ahead of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

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Loughborough University has been selected as one of three elite cricket venues added to the list of grounds that will play their part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 when it comes to England and Wales next year.

Alongside Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens and Derby County Ground, Loughborough – home of the ECB’s National Cricket Performance Centre – will play host to a range of warm-up matches before the tournament gets underway on 12th June 2026.

All three venues share a rich cricketing pedigree and have played a part in propelling women’s cricket on to the global stage. The warm-up matches will see the best in the world go head-to-head as they prepare for next summer’s groundbreaking tournament.

The three venues will play a prominent role in showcasing elite women’s cricket to local fans before the first ball of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is bowled at Edgbaston on 12th June next year.

Professor Jo Maher, Loughborough University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been chosen as an elite venue ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

“Loughborough has a rich heritage in cricket with many of our student athletes representing international sides over the years in all formats of the game. We have an on-going commitment to providing opportunities across the whole of women’s sport, including research, and we’re looking forward to welcoming players, coaches, support staff and volunteers to campus ahead of the tournament.”

Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sophia Gardens, Derby County Ground, and Loughborough University to the roster of incredible venues that will host the tournament next summer. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 provides an unparalleled opportunity to really shine a spotlight on the excellence in our sport and to launch women’s cricket firmly into the mainstream. We’re delighted to extend that opportunity to even more English and Welsh fans through the warm-up games, and to inspire hundreds and thousands of people across the country to fall in love with women’s cricket.”

Full details of the warm-up schedule will be revealed in due course.

The expanded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will see 12 teams descend on England and Wales to compete for the prestigious trophy that is currently held by New Zealand. 33 matches will be played across the 24-day competition, at seven iconic venues, before the final takes place at Lord’s on 5th July.

Eight countries are already sure of their place, with the final four participants to be decided through a Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier next year.

England and Wales were awarded hosting rights for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in 2022, with the seven host venues selected subsequently following evaluation of various criteria.

Fans can gain priority access to tickets for the tournament by signing up to receive exclusive information on how to buy or by visiting womens.t20worldcup.com.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 25/113

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2026, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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About the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will take place in England and Wales from the 12th June to the 5th July next summer. Over the course of 24 days, a total of 33 matches will be played across seven top-tier venues, including Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Manchester), Headingley (Leeds), The Hampshire Bowl (Southampton), and Bristol County Ground. The newly expanded competition will see 12 teams competing for the prestigious trophy currently held by New Zealand.