ICC announces record prize money pot as Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 trophy tour gets underway

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a record prize fund of US$8,764,615 for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, marking a 10% increase on the 2024 edition.

That figure eclipses the US$7,958,077 pot shared between the 10 competing nations in the United Arab Emirates two years ago as the tournament prepares to expand to 12 teams for the first time.

The winners will once again take home $2,340,000, with the runners up receiving $1,170,000. The losing semi-finalists will earn $675,000, while every group match win will earn teams $31,154. All 12 participating teams will earn an assured minimum prize pot of $247,500.

The landmark news comes just 60 days to go until the tournament gets underway on 12 June when England will take on Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The tournament openers will be joined by Australia, Bangladesh, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies, competing in the 33-match event which will be played across seven venues over 24 days, vying for the top prize.

All roads now officially point to England and Wales this summer, courtesy of the ICC Trophy Tour with DP World, which starts today and will run across Europe in the lead-up to the competition.

The Trophy Tour starts in London, where it will be placed in the centre of the square at the venue for the tournament’s final and the Home of Cricket, Lord’s Cricket Ground, accompanied by a dazzling projection—marking the first time anything has ever been projected onto the ground’s famous pavilion.

The trophy will travel to qualified European member nations in the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland, before embarking on an extensive tour of the tournament’s hosting cities through May, building excitement ahead of the tournament’s first ball on 12 June.

The tour aims to bring the tournament closer to fans, celebrating the scale and significance of what promises to be a defining moment for the women’s game.

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy will visit the host cities on the following dates:

• Scotland: 7 to 10 May

• Netherlands: 11 to 14 May

• Ireland: 15 to 18 May

• Leeds: 19 – 24 May

• Manchester: 25 – 27 May

• Birmingham: 28 - 29 May

• Bristol: 31 May – 1 June

• Southampton: 3 – 4 June

• London: 5 – 8 June

The tour will include visits to key locations with several opportunities for fan engagement, particularly across the host cities, including Millenium Square (Leeds), St Peter’s Square (Manchester), Bullring (Birmingham), Cabot Circus (Bristol), Guildhall Square (Southampton) and Trafalgar Square (London). Fans can follow the journey of the Trophy Tour through its dedicated Instagram handle - @icctrophytour

ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta, said: 

“The growth of women’s cricket continues to accelerate, and the expansion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to 12 teams, combined with a record prize pool, underlines our commitment to building a stronger, more competitive global game.

“The continued rise of women’s cricket through increased investment and opportunity reflects the growing influence and impact of female athletes on the global stage. With that same momentum building across every aspect of women's cricket, this event is shaping up to not only set a host of new attendance and viewing records in the sports and media ecosystems but also leave a lasting impact on the wider socio-cultural landscape across the world.”

Tournament Director, Beth Barrett-Wild said: 

“The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be a landmark moment for the game - on course to become the most attended women’s cricket event in history, with record-breaking ticket demand and the largest-ever prize pot for a global women’s T20 competition. That level of investment, alongside prize money that matches the men’s game, is a powerful reflection of the status, quality and global appeal of women’s cricket today.

"That same ambition is shaping how we build towards the tournament, with the trophy tour playing a key role in taking the game to new audiences, building excitement across England and Wales, and showcasing women’s cricket on the biggest stages as we count down to an unforgettable summer.”