Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the record prize money for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with 60 days left for the tournament to begin in England and Wales.
The total prize pool for the event has been increased to US$8,764,615 – a 10 percent increase compared to the 2024 edition.
This figure surpasses the US$7,958,077 shared between the ten competing nations two years ago, as the tournament expands to 12 teams for the first time in its history.
The winners will take home US$2,340,000, while the runners-up will receive US$1,170,000. The losers of the semi-finals will earn US$675,000 each, and each group-stage win will earn the teams US$31,154.
All 12 participating countries are guaranteed a minimum of US$247,500.
ICC Chief Executive Sanjok Gupta expressed his delight at the continued rise of women’s cricket and reaffirmed the governing body’s commitment to making the game more global.
“The growth of women’s cricket continues to accelerate and the expansion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to 12 teams, combined with a record prize pool, underscores our commitment to building a stronger, more competitive global game,” said the CEO.
“The continued rise of women’s cricket through increased investment and opportunities reflects the growing influence and impact of female athletes on the world stage.
“By creating the same momentum in every aspect of women’s cricket, the event not only sets new attendance and viewing records in the sports and media ecosystems, but also has a lasting impact on the wider socio-cultural landscape across the globe.”
Along with the prize money announcement, the official ICC Trophy Tour also begins today and will run across Europe ahead of the tournament.
The tour begins in London, where the trophy will be displayed in the center of the square at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the venue for the final of the tournament.
This will be accompanied by a dazzling projection of the trophy’s silhouette on the stadium’s iconic pavilion.
From there, the Cup will build excitement ahead of the opening day on June 12, before embarking on an extensive tour of host cities in England across May to the eligible European member states – the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland.
The tour includes visits to key venues with many opportunities for fan engagement, notably Millennium Square (Leeds), St Peter’s Square (Manchester), Bullring (Birmingham), Cabot Circus (Bristol), Guildhall Square (Southampton) and Trafalgar Square.