The ILT20 2026 Schedule is now confirmed. DP World ILT20 Season 5 will be played across the UAE from November 21 to December 20, 2026, with all 34 matches staged at the league’s three venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Season 5 features six teams and 34 matches, with defending champions Desert Vipers opening the tournament against MI Emirates in Dubai on November 21. The full match-by-match fixture list, including dates, venues and start times, is published below.
ILT20 2026 Schedule at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | DP World International League T20 Season 5 |
| Tournament Window | November 21 to December 20, 2026 |
| Teams | 6 |
| Total Matches | 34 |
| Host Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Host Cities | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah |
| Opening Match | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates (Dubai) |
| Final | December 20, 2026 – Dubai International Stadium |
| Defending Champions | Desert Vipers |
The November 21 start date comes from the latest official ILT20 communication.
ILT20 2026 Full Match Schedule
The complete match-by-match ILT20 2026 fixture list for the league stage is below. All times are listed in GST (Gulf Standard Time).
| Match No. | Date | Fixture | Venue | Location | Time (GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Nov 21 | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 2 | Sun, Nov 22 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 2:00 PM |
| 3 | Sun, Nov 22 | Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 4 | Mon, Nov 23 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 5 | Tue, Nov 24 | Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 6 | Wed, Nov 25 | Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 7 | Thu, Nov 26 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM |
| 8 | Fri, Nov 27 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 9 | Sat, Nov 28 | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 2:00 PM |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 28 | Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 29 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 2:00 PM |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 13 | Mon, Nov 30 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM |
| 14 | Tue, Dec 1 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 15 | Wed, Dec 2 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 2:00 PM |
| 16 | Wed, Dec 2 | Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 17 | Thu, Dec 3 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 18 | Fri, Dec 4 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 19 | Sat, Dec 5 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM |
| 20 | Sun, Dec 6 | MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 2:00 PM |
| 21 | Sun, Dec 6 | Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 22 | Mon, Dec 7 | Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM |
| 23 | Tue, Dec 8 | Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 24 | Wed, Dec 9 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 25 | Thu, Dec 10 | Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 26 | Fri, Dec 11 | Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 27 | Sat, Dec 12 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 28 | Sun, Dec 13 | Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 2:00 PM |
| 29 | Sun, Dec 13 | Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| 30 | Mon, Dec 14 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals | Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM |
ILT20 2026 Playoffs Schedule
The top four teams from the league stage advance to the playoffs. The qualifier, eliminator and final fixtures are confirmed below, with team names to be determined (TBC) once the league standings are finalised.
| Match No. | Date | Fixture | Venue | Location | Time (GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | Wed, Dec 16 | TBC vs TBC | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| Eliminator | Thu, Dec 17 | TBC vs TBC | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| Qualifier 2 | Fri, Dec 18 | TBC vs TBC | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| Final | Sun, Dec 20 | TBC vs TBC | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
ILT20 2026 Teams
Six franchises are set to compete in Season 5:
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
- Desert Vipers
- Dubai Capitals
- Gulf Giants
- MI Emirates
- Sharjah Warriorz
Desert Vipers enter the season as defending champions after winning their first ILT20 title in Season 4.
ILT20 2026 Venues
Season 5 will continue across the UAE’s three established ILT20 venues.
| Stadium | City |
|---|---|
| Dubai International Stadium | Dubai |
| Zayed Cricket Stadium | Abu Dhabi |
| Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sharjah |
Dubai hosts the largest share of fixtures, including the opening match and the final, with Abu Dhabi and Sharjah staging the remaining league games.
How Many Matches Are in ILT20 2026?
ILT20 Season 5 features 34 matches in total — 30 league-stage games followed by a four-match playoff (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the Final).
The six teams each play a round-robin league stage, after which the top four progress to the playoffs to decide the champion.
When Will ILT20 2026 Start?
Season 5 starts on Saturday, November 21, 2026, with defending champions Desert Vipers facing MI Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (6:30 PM GST).
When Is the ILT20 2026 Final?
The tournament concludes with the Final on Sunday, December 20, 2026, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (6:30 PM GST). The two finalists will be confirmed after the league stage and playoffs are completed.
What Time Do ILT20 2026 Matches Start?
Most matches begin at 6:30 PM GST, while afternoon double-header openers start at 2:00 PM GST. GST (Gulf Standard Time) is the local UAE time; for fans in India, add 1 hour 30 minutes (IST), so a 6:30 PM GST match starts at 8:00 PM IST.
Final Word: The Full ILT20 2026 Schedule Is Confirmed
The complete ILT20 2026 fixture list is now locked in: 34 matches from November 21 to December 20, 2026, across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, with the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. All league fixtures, playoff dates, venues and start times are listed above and will be updated with confirmed team names as the playoffs take shape.