The 2026 T20 Blast Women’s Competition is set to usher in a dynamic new era for county T20 cricket in England, with a refreshed structure, enhanced scheduling, and a record number of double headers sharing the stage with the men’s tournament. A total of 61 double headers will feature across the season, as both the women’s Tier 1 and League 2 competitions ‘Blast Off’ over the Bank Holiday Weekends, promising a summer filled with competitive rivalries and fan-friendly cricket experiences.
Surrey, the defending women’s champions, will open their campaign at home against Lancashire Thunder, marking one of the marquee fixtures of the opening weekend. Across London, newly promoted Middlesex, last season’s League 2 champions, host Kent at Lord’s, as part of the festival-like launch that includes 16 double headers combining men’s and women’s cricket.
A sweeping county-led review has resulted in major scheduling improvements designed to enhance player performance and viewer accessibility. The Blast Women’s Competition (Tier 1) will see counties play 12 group-stage matches, six at home and six away, reduced from 14 last season. The revamped calendar ensures a better balance between fixtures, minimises travel fatigue, and aligns 80 percent of matchdays with weekends and bank holidays to attract wider family audiences.
In a landmark development, Yorkshire will compete in the Blast Women’s Competition for the first time, setting up a historic Roses double header against Lancashire Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday, 10 July. Meanwhile, 41 of the women’s 54 group-stage fixtures will be double headers, showcasing the ECB’s commitment to equity and visibility across both competitions.
ECB Managing Director of Competitions and Major Events, Neil Snowball, said the 2026 season represents a meaningful step forward: “Every county will host a men’s and women’s double-header, with 61 double-headers in total. The significant reduction in back-to-back games gives players more opportunities to perform at their very best throughout the competition. The narrative of both competitions will also be easier to follow, culminating in a true celebration of T20 cricket with the women’s and men’s Vitality Blast Finals Days being hosted on consecutive days.”
The women’s competition will continue with its two-tier model, Blast Women’s Competition (Tier 1) and Blast Women’s League 2 (Tier 2), ensuring a structured pathway for aspiring counties. The Tier 1 group comprises Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Warwickshire Bears, and Yorkshire. Each side will face four counties twice and four once, with the top four progressing to Finals Day at the Kia Oval on Friday, 17 July, featuring two semi-finals and the grand final.
League 2 retains its eight-match group stage and moves to a single combined group, doing away with the previous North and South split. Teams include Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, and Worcestershire Rapids. The top three sides will qualify for Finals Day at Sophia Gardens on Sunday, 12 July, with an Eliminator preceding the Final.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has welcomed the competition’s redesigned structure, emphasising its positive implications for player welfare and match quality. PCA Chief Executive Daryl Mitchell said, “Players want to be at their optimum levels to perform at their best in county cricket’s flagship T20 competition, and a significant reduction of back-to-back fixtures across the men’s and women’s Blast, alongside more double headers and reduced travel in the men’s game, will allow this.”
With its expanded visibility, improved scheduling, and a Finals Day to match the spectacle of the men’s tournament, the 2026 Blast Women’s season signals a turning point for the domestic T20 landscape. Beyond being just a competition, it represents an investment in parity, professionalism, and performance, bringing women’s county cricket to the forefront of England’s summer once again.
(Quotes sourced from ECB Media Release)
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