ILT20 Schedule 2026 Fixtures, Match Timings and Venues
All 34 matches with dates, venues and start times for UAE, Pakistan, India and the UK.
ILT20 Season 5 gets going on Saturday 21 November 2026 when defending champions Desert Vipers face MI Emirates in Dubai, a repeat of last season’s final. Over the next four weeks the six franchises play 34 matches, and the title is decided on Sunday 20 December at Dubai International Stadium.
Pick your team in the tool below to see only their games, with start times in UAE, Pakistan, India and UK time. Before the first ball, it’s worth checking our ILT20 team profiles and the Season 5 auction results to see how each squad has changed. The Desert Vipers are chasing a second straight title, which no team has managed yet.
Countdown to the opening match: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates, Dubai International Stadium
During the season every game goes live on our ball by ball ILT20 scorecard, and the ILT20 standings update after each result.
ILT20 2026 Full Fixtures and Match Timings
| No. | Date | Match | Venue | UAE | Pakistan | India | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 21 Nov | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 2 | Sun 22 Nov | Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 2:00pm | 3:00pm | 3:30pm | 10:00am |
| 3 | Sun 22 Nov | Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 4 | Mon 23 Nov | Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 5 | Tue 24 Nov | Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 6 | Wed 25 Nov | Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 7 | Thu 26 Nov | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 8 | Fri 27 Nov | Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 9 | Sat 28 Nov | MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 2:00pm | 3:00pm | 3:30pm | 10:00am |
| 10 | Sat 28 Nov | Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 11 | Sun 29 Nov | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 2:00pm | 3:00pm | 3:30pm | 10:00am |
| 12 | Sun 29 Nov | Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 13 | Mon 30 Nov | MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 14 | Tue 1 Dec | Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 15 | Wed 2 Dec | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 2:00pm | 3:00pm | 3:30pm | 10:00am |
| 16 | Wed 2 Dec | Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 17 | Thu 3 Dec | Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 18 | Fri 4 Dec | Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 19 | Sat 5 Dec | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 20 | Sun 6 Dec | MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 2:00pm | 3:00pm | 3:30pm | 10:00am |
| 21 | Sun 6 Dec | Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 22 | Mon 7 Dec | MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 23 | Tue 8 Dec | Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 24 | Wed 9 Dec | Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 25 | Thu 10 Dec | Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 26 | Fri 11 Dec | Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 27 | Sat 12 Dec | Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 28 | Sun 13 Dec | MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 2:00pm | 3:00pm | 3:30pm | 10:00am |
| 29 | Sun 13 Dec | Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 30 | Mon 14 Dec | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 31 | Wed 16 Dec | Qualifier 1 1st vs 2nd | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 32 | Thu 17 Dec | Eliminator 3rd vs 4th | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 33 | Fri 18 Dec | Qualifier 2 Loser Q1 vs Winner Eliminator | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
| 34 | Sun 20 Dec | Final Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2 | Dubai International Stadium | 6:30pm | 7:30pm | 8:00pm | 2:30pm |
Playoff rows are highlighted. Times are local start times. UK times are GMT.
ILT20 2026 Key Dates
| Stage | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Opening match | Saturday 21 November | Dubai |
| League stage | 21 November to 14 December | Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah |
| Qualifier 1 | Wednesday 16 December | Abu Dhabi |
| Eliminator | Thursday 17 December | Dubai |
| Qualifier 2 | Friday 18 December | Sharjah |
| Final | Sunday 20 December | Dubai |
Double Header Days
Six days feature two matches, with the first starting at 2pm UAE time and the second at 6:30pm. They fall on 22, 28 and 29 November and on 2, 6 and 13 December. The 2 December double header lands on UAE National Day, with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders hosting Desert Vipers in the afternoon before Dubai Capitals take on MI Emirates under the lights.
How the League Stage and Playoffs Work
Each team plays the other five twice, so everyone gets 10 league games and there are 30 in total. The top four go through to the playoffs.
| Playoff | Who plays | What is at stake |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | 1st vs 2nd | Winner goes straight to the final |
| Eliminator | 3rd vs 4th | Loser is out |
| Qualifier 2 | Loser of Qualifier 1 vs winner of the Eliminator | Winner joins them in the final |
| Final | Qualifier 1 winner vs Qualifier 2 winner | Season 5 champion |
Finishing in the top two gives a team a second chance if Qualifier 1 goes wrong, which is why the race for those spots usually goes down to the final weekend of the league.
Where the Matches Are Played
Dubai International Stadium hosts 15 games, including the opener and the final. Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi has 11 and Sharjah Cricket Stadium has 8. For pitch notes and travel tips, see our guide to the three ILT20 grounds.
Why the Season Starts in November
The first three seasons ran in January and February, and Season 4 moved to December and early January. Season 5 now finishes before Christmas so it no longer clashes with SA20 in South Africa, which lets overseas stars play the whole tournament.
ILT20 Seasons and Winners So Far
| Season | When | Champions | Runners up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | January to February 2023 | Gulf Giants | Desert Vipers |
| Season 2 | January to February 2024 | MI Emirates | Dubai Capitals |
| Season 3 | January to February 2025 | Dubai Capitals | Desert Vipers |
| Season 4 | December 2025 to January 2026 | Desert Vipers | MI Emirates |
| Season 5 | 21 November to 20 December 2026 | To be decided | To be decided |
Four seasons, four different champions. That alone tells you how open this league is.
What to Watch For This Season
The opener alone is worth circling. MI Emirates spent their whole purse and arrive with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nicholas Pooran and Rashid Khan, while the Vipers now have Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman at the top. Gulf Giants play their first game in Sharjah on 22 November with Liam Livingstone, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen in the middle order. For fixture changes and team news, check our latest ILT20 updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does ILT20 2026 start?
The opening match is on Saturday 21 November 2026, Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium at 6:30pm UAE time.
When is the ILT20 2026 final?
Sunday 20 December 2026 at Dubai International Stadium, starting at 6:30pm UAE time.
How many matches are there in ILT20 2026?
34 in total. There are 30 league matches and 4 playoffs.
What time do ILT20 matches start in Pakistan and India?
Evening games start at 7:30pm in Pakistan and 8pm in India. Afternoon games on double header days start at 3pm in Pakistan and 3:30pm in India.
How many matches does each team play?
Each team plays 10 league matches, two against each of the other five sides.
How many double headers are there in ILT20 2026?
Six, on 22, 28 and 29 November and on 2, 6 and 13 December.
Where are the ILT20 2026 playoffs?
Qualifier 1 is in Abu Dhabi, the Eliminator in Dubai and Qualifier 2 in Sharjah. The final is in Dubai.
Who won the last ILT20 season?
Desert Vipers won Season 4, beating MI Emirates in the final.
Last updated: 7 October 2026