October 7, 2026
ILT20 2026 Schedule Announced as Desert Vipers Face MI Emirates in Opener
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DUBAI: The ILT20 2026 schedule has been announced, with the fifth edition of the tournament set to feature 34 matches across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah from November 21 to December 20.
Defending champions Desert Vipers will open the campaign against MI Emirates at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on November 21, setting up a repeat of last season's final. The competition will then move between the three UAE venues before the playoffs determine the finalists.
The six franchises will first compete in a 30-match league phase, with every team playing the other five sides twice. The top four teams will progress to the knockout stage, giving the league a double round-robin format before the title race enters its final phase.
The ILT20 2026 schedule announced by the league also includes two matches on November 22, with Sharjah Warriorz meeting Gulf Giants in Sharjah before Dubai Capitals host Abu Dhabi Knight Riders later that day.
Abu Dhabi will stage its first match on November 26, when Knight Riders take on MI Emirates at Zayed Cricket Stadium. Dubai will host the largest share of league fixtures, while Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will also feature prominently throughout the month.
ILT20 2026 Schedule
|
Time (PKT) |
Date |
Match / Teams |
Venue |
|
7:30 PM |
SAT 21 NOV |
Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates |
Dubai |
|
3:00 PM |
SUN 22 NOV |
Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants |
Sharjah |
|
7:30 PM |
SUN 22 NOV |
Dubai Capitals vs AD Knight Riders |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
MON 23 NOV |
Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers |
Sharjah |
|
7:30 PM |
TUE 24 NOV |
Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
WED 25 NOV |
Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
THU 26 NOV |
AD Knight Riders vs MI Emirates |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
FRI 27 NOV |
Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals |
Sharjah |
|
3:00 PM |
SAT 28 NOV |
MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
SAT 28 NOV |
Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals |
Dubai |
|
3:00 PM |
SUN 29 NOV |
AD Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
SUN 29 NOV |
Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
MON 30 NOV |
MI Emirates vs AD Knight Riders |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
TUE 1 DEC |
Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz |
Sharjah |
|
3:00 PM |
WED 2 DEC |
AD Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
WED 2 DEC |
Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
THU 3 DEC |
Gulf Giants vs AD Knight Riders |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
FRI 4 DEC |
Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz |
Sharjah |
|
7:30 PM |
SAT 5 DEC |
AD Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants |
Abu Dhabi |
|
3:00 PM |
SUN 6 DEC |
MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
SUN 6 DEC |
Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
MON 7 DEC |
MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
TUE 8 DEC |
Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
WED 9 DEC |
Sharjah Warriorz vs AD Knight Riders |
Sharjah |
|
7:30 PM |
THU 10 DEC |
Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
FRI 11 DEC |
Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates |
Sharjah |
|
7:30 PM |
SAT 12 DEC |
Desert Vipers vs AD Knight Riders |
Dubai |
|
3:00 PM |
SUN 13 DEC |
MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
SUN 13 DEC |
Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
MON 14 DEC |
AD Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
WED 16 DEC |
Qualifier 1: Seed 1 vs Seed 2 |
Abu Dhabi |
|
7:30 PM |
THU 17 DEC |
Eliminator: Seed 3 vs Seed 4 |
Dubai |
|
7:30 PM |
FRI 18 DEC |
Qualifier 2: Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator |
Sharjah |
|
7:30 PM |
SUN 20 DEC |
Final |
Dubai |
ILT20 2026 Playoffs
The playoff race begins on December 16 with Qualifier 1 between the top two teams in Abu Dhabi. The third- and fourth-placed sides will meet in the Eliminator in Dubai on December 17, followed by Qualifier 2 in Sharjah on December 18.
The winner of Qualifier 1 will go straight into the final, while the losing side gets another chance against the Eliminator winner. The ILT20 2026 Schedule concludes with the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on December 20.
Also read: Babar in ILT20 2026