ICC Events Calendar: World Cups, Champions Trophy and Test Championship
A guide to ICC's major tournament calendar — the Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, Women's T20 World Cup, and the World Test Championship cycle.
The ICC Events Framework
The International Cricket Council (ICC) organises the sport's major global tournaments across a rolling four-year cycle. The cycle includes white-ball World Cups (ODI and T20I), the Champions Trophy, the World Test Championship final, and separate women's equivalents for each. Events are hosted by member boards on rotation, with hosting rights awarded by the ICC. The entire calendar is designed to ensure every format and gender grouping receives a flagship annual or biennial event.
ODI Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup (50-over format) is held every four years. It is one of the most watched sporting events globally. The 2023 World Cup in India attracted an estimated 50+ million viewers for the final. Ten teams compete in the group stage before knockout rounds. India, Australia, and West Indies are the most successful nations by titles. The next ODI World Cup is scheduled for 2027, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
ICC Men's T20 World Cup
The T20 World Cup is the premier T20I tournament, held every two years from 2024 onwards (previously every four). The tournament features up to 20 teams in the full event, making it the most inclusive cricket tournament. The Women's T20 World Cup runs on the same biennial schedule. The 2024 T20 World Cup was co-hosted by the USA and West Indies — the first major ICC event in North America. The 2026 Women's T20 World Cup was hosted in England — Australia won the final at Lord's by 7 wickets, their record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup title.
ICC Champions Trophy
The Champions Trophy is an 8-team ODI knockout tournament, revived in 2025 after an eight-year absence. It features the top-ranked ODI nations and is considered more competitive than the full World Cup's group stage because there are no mismatches between top-eight and qualifier teams. The 2025 Champions Trophy was held in Pakistan and co-hosted with Dubai, with India playing their matches in the UAE.
Women's Cricket Events
The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup (ODI) is held every four years. The Women's T20 World Cup runs every two years. From 2022, the ICC also introduced the inaugural Women's Championship — a bilateral points-based qualification pathway for the Women's ODI World Cup. Women's cricket viewership has grown dramatically since 2015, and ICC events now receive broadcast contracts comparable in scope (if not value) to the men's equivalents.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the Cricket World Cup held?
The ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup is held every four years. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is now held every two years. The Women's equivalents follow the same respective schedules.
How many teams compete in the ICC Cricket World Cup?
The ODI World Cup has featured 10 teams in the group stage since 2019. The T20 World Cup expanded to 20 teams from 2024. The Champions Trophy features 8 teams.
What is the difference between the Champions Trophy and the World Cup?
The Champions Trophy features only the top 8 ranked ODI nations and uses a group-then-knockout format over fewer matches. The World Cup includes 10 teams and takes longer. The Champions Trophy is more compact and arguably more competitive.