The countdown is really on now to one of the biggest sporting events of the year - the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will land in Leeds in just a few weeks’ time.
The upcoming cricket tournament has already shattered all previous ticket sales records, ahead of what promises to be the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup ever staged.
With just two weeks to go to the opening match between England and Sri Lanka, ticket sales have already surpassed 155,000.
And anticipation is growing for the sporting event of the summer, a 24-day spectacle played across seven iconic venues in England and Wales.
Headingley will play its part in this record-breaking tournament this summer, hosting several major games.
The action kicks off here in Leeds on Wednesday 17 June, with a double-header featuring Australia v Bangladesh and India v Netherlands.
Headingley will also host one of the tournament’s marquee fixtures - England v Scotland on Saturday 20 June.
So if you’re planning to go down for all the action, or just want to know what’s in store, here’s the essential info you need for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Leeds dates for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
The T20 trophy on a tour of Leeds
Headingley will welcome eight teams across five fixtures in June, including England, Scotland, Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and India, plus tournament newcomers Netherlands.
Wednesday 17 June - Australia v Bangladesh, Headingley - 10.30am
Wednesday 17 June - India v Netherlands, Headingley - 2.30pm
Thursday 18 June - West Indies v Scotland, Headingley - 6.30pm
Saturday 20 June - England v Scotland, Headingley - 6.30pm
Tuesday 23 June - Australia v Pakistan, Headingley - 6.30pm
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
This year’s ticket sales have surpassed the total fan attendance of 136,549 recorded across the entirety of the 2020 edition in Australia, highlighting the extraordinary momentum behind women’s cricket and the growing global demand for the women’s game.
Adult tickets start from just £15 in Headingley, you can grab tickets for games HERE.
What else is on?
Spirit Week has been driving up the excitement even further, with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy currently on a tour around the UK - including a great day out here in Leeds.
And when it’s England v Scotland here in Headingley, there’ll be all sorts of activations and activities across town to get everyone in the spirit of the World Cup.
The ICC and UNICEF will also be delivering Cricket 4 Good clinics in local communities, with cricketing stars giving young cricketers tips and skills training.
What the ICC have said
Headingley will host a number of T20 Women's World Cup fixtures
ICC General Manager - Events and Corporate Communications, Gaurav Saxena said: “The 2026 edition becoming the highest-selling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup ever is another milestone for the women’s game.
“It not only highlights the incredible momentum behind women’s cricket but also reflects the strong cultural pull of an ICC pinnacle event, appeal for which is not limited to only the sports fans.
“This edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be our biggest tournament till date and is expected to smash attendance and viewership records in the UK and around the world. This milestone is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved and has been almost a year in the making.
“The response from fans is a testament to the bold, creative and well-executed marketing efforts of both the ICC and the ECB in the run-up to the tournament, more of which are to follow over the next four weeks.
“We look forward to welcoming fans from across the globe to England and Wales for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Tournament Director, Beth Barrett-Wild said: “Surpassing 155,000 ticket sales is an incredible milestone and a powerful signal of the momentum behind the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. To have exceeded the previous record set in Australia, before a ball has been bowled, shows just how much excitement there is for this tournament and for women’s cricket globally.
“We’ve always believed this tournament has the potential to be the biggest women’s cricket event in history, and the response from fans has been extraordinary. It reflects the growing profile of the women’s game, the strength of the teams and players on show, and the appetite for world-class sporting events across England and Wales as we build towards an unforgettable summer in 2026.”
History has been made today, with a staggering 23,000 children picking up a cricket bat for the biggest single day of cricket participation the country has ever seen.
The biggest-ever Schools Cricket Day has taken place across England and Wales today to mark the 50 day countdown to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will take place at Headingley Cricket Ground in June.
Thousands of children from 125 schools across the region have taken part in some form of cricket activity, whether it’s their first time bowling or they were taking part in a competitive match.
It marks a major milestone on the road to this summer’s tournament, which will kick off at Edgbaston on 12 June before heading to Headingley Cricket Ground for five fixtures from 13 June.
The celebrations today have seen Australia and Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) star Jess Jonassen playing her part in the celebrations at Morley Cricket Club in Leeds, where there was a dedicated session for more than 50 lucky children.
Alongside lessons and activities, schoolteachers received training to help them become cricket ‘activators’, empowering them to bring cricket to their local communities in the long term.
The day also featured bespoke resources and games created by the ICC’s global charity partner, UNICEF, through its “Rights in Play” programme.
Schools Cricket Day is part of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s ambitions to use the tournament to inspire the next generation of girls to play cricket.
This year alone, through various initiatives and programmes, the ECB is aiming to see 500,000 women and girls playing cricket, 300 women taking up key leadership roles within the game’s administration, and 500 Champions of Change created as part of the Young Cricket Collective, which will empower young girls to volunteer and make change at their local cricket clubs.
Australia and Yorkshire CCC star, Jess Jonassen, who attended the event said: “I can’t wait for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup coming to England, and Headingley, in just 50 days' time.
“Playing in international tournaments like ICC World Cups was always my goal as I was moving through the ranks back home, and initiatives like today are so important to inspire the next generation of cricketers.
“Major tournaments can have such a powerful legacy and today’s School Cricket Day is a pivotal step towards encouraging more girls and boys, across Yorkshire and the entire country, to pick up a bat and ball and fall in love with the sport.”
Gemma Barton, ECB Head of Strategic Growth, said: “Moments like this show how the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is shaping the future of the game.
“Every girl and boy inspired to pick up a bat and ball today can see how inclusive, welcoming and fun cricket is.
“It’s not just about the summer ahead, it’s about what comes next: more girls playing, more teams growing, and more people feeling like they belong in the game.”
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 are selling fast - you can get yours for Leeds HERE.
A huge FA Cup semi-final fan park is opening in Leeds, with the biggest screen in the city
Daisy Jackson
An enormous fan park is set to open in Leeds this month, ahead of Leeds United's FA Cup semi-final clash against Chelsea.
The Whites will be heading to Wembley on Sunday 26 April, but Leeds fans will be able to cheer them on in our home city too, thanks to this massive event from 4TheFans.
4TheFans will be turning the O2 Academy Leeds into an immersive, dedicated Leeds United fan park experience for this historic day.
Expect to watch all the action on the biggest screen in Leeds, plus there'll be world-class sound, a Sky Sports presenter, a fully-stocked bar, a dedicated 4TheFans presenter, DJs, and a genuine Leeds football legend providing analysis and banter.
And every time the ball hits the back of the net, pyrotechnics and other special effects will only add to the atmosphere.
It's been 39 years since our beloved Leeds reached an FA Cup semi-final, and now Daniel Farke’s side are just 90 minutes away from a place in the FA Cup Final.
Nearly 2000 fellow supporters will be able to come together under one roof in one of the city's most iconic venues, for what's shaping up to be the best atmosphere outside Wembley itself.
This really is the best alternative to being at the actual match, with 4TheFans’ proven track record of creating atmospheric fan parks for major sporting events.
A huge FA Cup semi-final fan park is opening in Leeds, with the biggest screen in the city
And whether it ends in ecstasy or heartbreak, this is a match that Leeds fans need to see together.
Hundreds of tickets have already been sold from pre-registration.
General Admission tickets start at £7.50 and provide standing access to the entire fan park, while premium seated tickets start from £9.50 and secure a balcony seat with unobstructed views of the screens.
This family event is for anyone over eight years old (under 14s must be accompanied by an adult on the balcony).
The 4TheFans FA Cup semi-final fan park will be open at O2 Academy Leeds on Sunday 26 April, with doors open at 1pm ahead of a 3pm kick-off.