The 2026 T20 Blast begins on Friday (May 22) - here's the updated format and the changes that have been made to the tournament.
The T20 Blast will have a new format from 2026, with the men’s competition moving from two groups of nine teams to three regional groups of six.
The change was confirmed by the ECB after a vote by a majority of the 18 first-class counties. The men’s competition will also be played in one block before the start of The Hundred, with Finals Day brought forward to July.
What is the format of the men’s T20 Blast 2026?
The 18 counties will be divided into three groups: North, Central & West and South.
Each team will play 12 group-stage matches. Counties will face the other five teams in their group twice, home and away, for a total of 10 fixtures. They will also play two matches against teams from outside their group, one at home and one away.
Also Read: Men's T20 Blast 2026: Full list of overseas players
T20 Blast 2026 groups
North: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Durham, Yorkshire, Leicestershire
Central and West: Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Birmingham Bears, Somerset, Glamorgan, Worcestershire
South: Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire
Following the group stage, eight teams will qualify for the quarter-finals. The top two teams from each group will progress, along with the two best third-placed teams. The quarter-final winners will reach Finals Day, which will feature two semi-finals and the final.
What has changed from the previous T20 Blast format?
From 2014 to 2025, excluding the shortened 2020 season, the men’s Blast used two groups of nine teams. Each county played 14 group-stage matches, with the top four from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals.
The women's T20 Blast tournament will also see changes, with the competition expanding to nine teams from eight, with Yorkshire joining. Each team will play 12 group-stage matches, six at home and six away - different from the 14 they played before. Teams will face four opponents twice and four opponents once.
The top four teams will qualify for Finals Day, which will include two semi-finals and a final.
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