The Hundred 2026: Live Season Guide
The Hundred 2026 runs 21 July to 16 August, with men's and women's tournaments contested simultaneously at England's top venues. Opener: MI London vs Sunrisers Leeds at The Kia Oval. Finals Day at Lord's.
Tournament Underway: July 21 Start
The Hundred 2026 began on 21 July at The Kia Oval, London, with the opening men's double-header between MI London and Sunrisers Leeds following the women's fixture at the same venue. The tournament runs through 16 August with Finals Day at Lord's. All 16 teams — 8 men's, 8 women's — compete in parallel, with men's and women's fixtures regularly staged as double-headers at the same ground on the same day. It is the most visible cricket of the English summer alongside the international schedule.
The 8 Men's Teams
The eight men's franchises represent England's major cricket venues. MI London (The Kia Oval) and London Spirit (Lord's) cover the capital. Manchester Super Giants (Old Trafford), Sunrisers Leeds (Headingley), Birmingham Phoenix (Edgbaston), Southern Brave (Ageas Bowl), Trent Rockets (Trent Bridge), and Welsh Fire (Sophia Gardens, Cardiff) cover the rest of England and Wales. Each franchise fields both a men's and women's team — the parallel competitions are one of The Hundred's most distinctive features, giving women's cricket equal billing at major venues.
The 100-Ball Format
The Hundred uses a unique 100-ball format rather than 20 six-ball overs. Bowlers can deliver 5-ball or 10-ball sets and bowl a maximum of 20 deliveries in a match. A strategic timeout is built in, and the fielding restrictions run for the first 25 balls from each end in the powerplay. The format compresses a T20-length game slightly but differentiates the competition commercially — the 100-ball unit is simpler to communicate to new audiences than overs and maidens. Matches typically last 2.5 to 3 hours from first ball to last.
Where to Watch The Hundred 2026
The Hundred is broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK — the free-to-air deal ensuring the maximum possible domestic audience for the competition. Sky Sports also broadcasts matches. International streaming varies by territory. Ticket prices are deliberately kept accessible — The Hundred was designed from inception to attract new cricket fans, families, and younger demographics, and the pricing policy reflects that commercial objective.
Finals Day at Lord's: 16 August
The tournament culminates with Finals Day at Lord's on 16 August 2026 — the women's final followed by the men's final in a full-day event at cricket's most famous ground. Lord's hosted both the Women's T20 World Cup Final (5 July 2026) and the India-England ODI decider (19 July 2026) earlier in the same English summer, making it the centrepiece of an exceptionally full international cricket calendar at the ground in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When did The Hundred 2026 start?
The Hundred 2026 started on 21 July 2026 at The Kia Oval, with the opening double-header between MI London and Sunrisers Leeds in the men's competition. The tournament runs until Finals Day at Lord's on 16 August.
How many overs is The Hundred?
The Hundred uses 100-ball innings rather than 20 overs. Each bowler delivers sets of 5 or 10 balls and is limited to 20 balls per match. The format is broadly comparable to a T20 match in duration — around 2.5 to 3 hours per innings.
Which teams are in The Hundred 2026?
The 8 men's and 8 women's franchises are: MI London, London Spirit, Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds, Birmingham Phoenix, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire. Each fields both a men's and women's team in parallel competitions.