Sky Sports has announced that every one of the twelve group‑stage matches featuring England, Scotland and Ireland, together with the semi‑finals and the championship match of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, will be available at no cost through the Sky Sports mobile application. Fans of the three home nations will be able to stream all of their group‑stage fixtures without needing a paid subscription, simply by opening the app. In addition, the opening games for each side and the tournament’s finale will also be broadcast free‑to‑air on Sky Mix, widening the reach even further.
The tournament’s very first encounter – England versus Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on 12 June – will enjoy a triple‑platform rollout. It will be shown on the linear Sky One channel, streamed live on Sky Sports’ official YouTube channel, and carried on Sky Sports’ traditional television channels. This multi‑channel approach is designed to attract the largest possible audience for a competition that culminates with the final at Lord’s on Sunday, 5 July.
To take advantage of the free streams, viewers should download the most recent version of the Sky Sports App to their smartphone or tablet. Links for both iOS (version 14 and newer) and Android (version 8 and newer) are provided on Sky’s website. New Zealand enter the tournament as defending champions, while England are eager to claim the title for the first time since they hosted and won the inaugural edition in 2009. England’s recent history at the event has been modest – they were eliminated in the group stage in both 2010 and 2024 – which adds extra intrigue to their 2026 campaign.
As the exclusive broadcast partner, Sky Sports and its streaming arm NOW will deliver live coverage of every ball, from the opening spell at Edgbaston to the decisive moments at Lord’s. The commentary team will feature former England captain Nasser Hussain, former England women’s cricketer Natasha Farrant, and Sky’s seasoned presenter Hannah Wilkes, ensuring insightful analysis throughout the tournament.
Sky Sports emphasizes that fans can stream cricket without signing a long‑term contract. The app also offers a dedicated Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, a WhatsApp channel for updates, and a recommendation to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. Beyond the T20 World Cup, Sky Sports is curating a landmark summer of women’s cricket.
Highlights include a historic women’s Test match at Lord’s between England and India, scheduled to begin on 10 July, and the return of The Hundred later in the month. These events underline Sky’s commitment to elevating the women’s game. Jonathan Licht, Sky’s Chief Sports Officer for the UK & Ireland, explained the strategic intent: “We view this summer as a potential turning point for women’s cricket.
By offering a large portion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for free, we hope to draw new viewers, nurture a growing fan base, and inspire the next generation of players. Sky Sports is not merely a broadcaster; we are an active partner in the sport’s development, collaborating closely with the ICC and the ECB to maximise the impact of these moments.” Sanjog Gupta, CEO of the International Cricket Council, echoed the sentiment, noting that the tournament is a marquee event for global sport and a key opportunity to attract fans to the women’s game. He praised Sky’s decision as aligning with the ICC’s broader strategy to broaden access across both digital screens and physical venues, thereby strengthening cricket’s cultural footprint in the United Kingdom and beyond. Tournament director Beth Barrett‑Wild added that the 2026 edition promises world‑class talent, unforgettable performances, and iconic venues across England and Wales.
She highlighted that making the opening match at Edgbaston and the final at Lord’s freely available will set the stage for a memorable competition, creating new supporters who fall in love with women’s cricket for life. The Sky Sports App is ready for download now on iOS and Android platforms. Users should review Sky’s Privacy Notice – available at https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-privacy-and-cookies-notice – and read the Terms & Conditions before using the service.
All match times are listed in UK and Ireland local time. Games shown in bold in the schedule are accessible without a subscription via the Sky Sports App. **Match Schedule (selected highlights)** - Fri 12 June: England vs Sri Lanka – Edgbaston, 18:30 - Sat 13 June: Scotland vs Ireland – Old Trafford, 10:30 - Sat 13 June: Australia vs South Africa – Old Trafford, 14:30 - Sat 13 June: West Indies vs New Zealand – Hampshire Bowl, 18:30 - Sun 14 June: Bangladesh vs Netherlands – Edgbaston, 10:30 - Sun 14 June: India vs Pakistan – Edgbaston, 14:30 - Tue 16 June: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – Hampshire Bowl, 14:30 - Tue 16 June: England vs Ireland – Hampshire Bowl, 18:30 - Wed 17 June: Australia vs Bangladesh – Headingley, 10:30 - Wed 17 June: India vs Netherlands – Headingley, 14:30 - Wed 17 June: South Africa vs Pakistan – Edgbaston, 18:30 - Thu 18 June: West Indies vs Scotland – Headingley, 18:30 - Fri 19 June: New Zealand vs Ireland – Hampshire Bowl, 18:30 - Sat 20 June: Australia vs Netherlands – Hampshire Bowl, 10:30 - Sat 20 June: Pakistan vs Bangladesh – Hampshire Bowl, 14:30 - Sat 20 June: England vs Scotland – Headingley, 18:30 - Sun 21 June: West Indies vs Sri Lanka – Bristol County Ground, 10:30 - Sun 21 June: South Africa vs India – Old Trafford, 14:30 - Tue 23 June: New Zealand vs Scotland – Bristol County Ground, 10:30 - Tue 23 June: Sri Lanka vs Ireland – Bristol County Ground, 14:30 - Tue 23 June: Australia vs Pakistan – Headingley, 18:30 - Wed 24 June: England vs West Indies – Lord’s, 18:30 - Thu 25 June: India vs Bangladesh – Old Trafford, 14:30 - Thu 25 June: South Africa vs Netherlands – Bristol County Ground, 18:30 - Fri 26 June: Sri Lanka vs Scotland – Old Trafford, 18:30 - Sat 27 June: Pakistan vs Netherlands – Bristol County Ground, 10:30 - Sat 27 June: West Indies vs Ireland – Bristol County Ground, 14:30 - Sat 27 June: England vs New Zealand – The Oval, 18:30 - Sun 28 June: South Africa vs Bangladesh – Lord’s, 10:30 - Sun 28 June: Australia vs India – Lord’s, 14:30 - Tue 30 June: Semi‑Final 1 – The Oval, 14:30 (teams to be confirmed) - Thu 2 July: Semi‑Final 2 – The Oval, 18:30 (teams to be confirmed) - Sun 5 July: Final – Lord’s, 14:30 (teams to be confirmed) In summary, the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup will be fully accessible to UK viewers through Sky Sports’ free‑to‑watch app, with additional free‑to‑air coverage on Sky Mix and Sky One for key fixtures. The comprehensive broadcast plan, combined with Sky’s promotional efforts and the ICC’s strategic goals, aims to bring the sport to a broader audience, inspire future talent, and cement women’s cricket as a central part of the nation’s sporting conversation.