GT20 Canada 2026 schedule announced after a year-long hiatus

Harsh Adwani

GT20 Canada set to return to action [Source: @MuzamalDhother/x.com]GT20 Canada set to return to action [Source: @MuzamalDhother/x.com]

After a gap of a year, the GT20 Canada is set to return to action later this year. The competition is scheduled to run from 23rd July 2026 to 8th August 2026. The organisers confirmed that the tournament will get underway after the completion of the FIFA World Cup.

The T20 tournament was inaugurated in 2018, and this will be the fifth edition. King City and Brampton previously hosted the matches, but the action will now move to Toronto, with an announcement on the exact location to come later.

Focus increases on Canadian players

According to Cricket Canada president Amjad Bajwa, the tournament aims to bridge the gap between grassroots cricket and the professional game. He believes that the league is essential for the Canadian players to get a meaningful opportunity and that a developing cricket nation needs to have a strong professional league.

"Platforms like GT20 Canada help bridge the gap between grassroots cricket and the professional game. They give Canadian players meaningful opportunities to compete at a high level and give fans access to a product that feels current and relevant. As cricket continues to grow across the country, having strong professional leagues is essential,” Bajwa said in his statement.

GT20 Canada gets new ownership

The tournament is now under new ownership, with the National Cricket League (NCL) Canada taking charge after signing a long-term licence agreement with Cricket Canada in April 2025. Cricket Canada ended their contract with their previous owners, Bombay Sports, in December 2024, citing breach of contract.

The organisers believe that the 2026 edition will get a boost from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which runs from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka. Canada made their debut in the World Cup in 2024 in the USA and will now make their second consecutive appearance. They have been clubbed in Group D with New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Canada expected to play 7 warm-up games before the World Cup

The Canadian team are scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka on Tuesday for three weeks, where they hope to play at least five warm-up matches. They will then leave for India at the end of the month to play two more warm-up games against Nepal and Italy.

They are scheduled to play their first game of the World Cup against South Africa on the 9th of February, followed by games against the UAE on the 13th, New Zealand on the 17th, and Afghanistan on the 19th.

Canada has not announced their squad yet, but they are expected to name their 15 players shortly. Ingleton Liburd will serve as their head coach in the T20 World Cup.