The Hundred is set to return for its 2026 season, with live coverage on Sky Sports from Tuesday, July 21 through Sunday, August 16. While the core format remains the same, a number of notable changes have been introduced for this edition of the ECB’s 100‑ball competition.
One of the most significant innovations is the introduction of a combined men’s‑and‑women’s trophy. In addition to the traditional separate titles for the men’s and women’s champions, the franchise that accumulates the highest total points across both competitions will be awarded an overall Hundred trophy.
Points are earned in the same way for each side: a win in the group stage, an eliminator or the final is worth four points, and the points from a franchise’s men’s and women’s squads are added together to produce a single combined score. Further incentives have been added for the top‑performing sides. The franchise that finishes first in the men’s league table receives a four‑point bonus, and the same applies to the women’s league leaders.
Those bonuses are designed to reward consistency and to give the leading teams a clearer path to the final, bypassing the eliminator round entirely. In the event that two franchises end the tournament level on combined points, the tie‑breaker will first consider whether either side has won a final. If one team has a final victory and the other does not, the former will be declared the overall winner. Should both teams have won a final—or if neither has—the decision will move to the number of finalists each franchise has produced.
If a tie still persists, combined net run‑rate will be used as the ultimate decider. Ownership across all eight franchises has now shifted to include significant overseas investors. The most high‑profile deals involve Reliance Industries Limited, owned by the Ambani family, acquiring a 49 percent stake in MI London (formerly the Oval Invincibles). Likewise, Todd Boehly’s Cain International has taken a 49 percent share in the Trent Rockets, a transaction that was finalised in late 2025.
While the other six teams secured foreign investment in previous years, 2026 marks the first season where those investors will have a fully operational say in club affairs. The influx of international capital has also prompted a visual overhaul of team kits, aligning many Hundred franchises with the colour schemes of their overseas parent clubs. MI London, which previously wore green under the Oval Invincibles banner, will now sport the blue and gold trim synonymous with the Mumbai Indians of the IPL. SunRisers Leeds, formerly the Northern Superchargers, have swapped their purple kit for orange to mirror SunRisers Hyderabad.
Southern Brave’s traditional green strip has been replaced by a blue‑and‑red design matching Delhi Capitals, while Manchester Super Giants have adopted the red‑and‑blue stripes of the Lucknow Super Giants. Other kit changes include Birmingham Phoenix, which will appear in an all‑black uniform this season after previously wearing orange and yellow. London Spirit retains its blue base but adds a distinctive MCC‑style "egg‑and‑bacon" yellow‑and‑red stripe down the front. Welsh Fire and Trent Rockets keep their classic red and yellow‑orange palettes respectively.
The ownership landscape is equally diverse. Knighthead Capital Management, which owns a majority stake (48.4 percent) in Birmingham Phoenix, also controls Jude Bellingham’s former football club Birmingham City and counts NFL legend Tom Brady among its minority shareholders. The Sun Group, owners of SunRisers Hyderabad, now fully own SunRisers Leeds. The R PSG Group, which backs Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, holds a 70 percent stake in Manchester Super Giants (formerly the Originals).
GMR Group, with interests in the IPL’s Delhi Capitals and England’s Hampshire, possesses a 49 percent share of Southern Brave. The American‑based Tech Titans own 49 percent of London Spirit, and Indian‑American entrepreneur Sanjay Goval, who runs Major League Cricket’s Washington Freedom, has a 50 percent stake in Welsh Fire. These substantial investments have translated into a record‑breaking auction. In the men’s draft, Sussex all‑rounder James Coles—who recently featured in England’s white‑ball side against India—was snapped up by London Spirit for £390,000.
Welsh Fire spent £200,000 on Jordan Cox after his standout performances for the Oval Invincibles in 2025. On the women’s side, England’s Dani Gibson commanded a £190,000 fee from SunRisers Leeds. International stars also featured prominently: Australian legend Beth Mooney earned £210,000 with Trent Rockets, and New Zealand icon Sophie Devine secured the same amount with Welsh Fire.
The auction highlighted the competition’s growing financial clout, with 18‑year‑old England spinner Tilly Corteen‑Coleman receiving a £105,000 contract from Southern Brave, underscoring how The Hundred can become a lucrative platform for emerging talent. England footballer Jude Bellingham has also entered the cricketing arena, holding a 1.2 percent stake in Birmingham Phoenix and committing to community‑driven cricket participation initiatives. His involvement reflects the broader trend of cross‑sport investment and the ambition to broaden cricket’s appeal.
The 2026 schedule will feature double‑headers each day, with a women’s match followed by a men’s fixture at the same venue. The opening day sees the defending women’s champions SunRisers Leeds take on MI London at The Oval (first ball at 2:45 pm), followed by MI London’s men’s side beginning their quest for a fourth consecutive title against SunRisers Leeds at 6:30 pm.
Fans can watch every match live on Sky Sports throughout the tournament, and Sky Sports also offers a WhatsApp service for updates. For the best viewing experience, a Chrome browser is recommended to access the enhanced video player.
Overall, the 2026 edition of The Hundred promises a blend of competitive cricket, fresh visual identities, and a stronger financial foundation, all aimed at elevating the sport’s profile both in the UK and internationally.