MLC 2026 Loading! Season 4 To Be Played In A Unique Window

Aakash Saini

MI New York players [Source: @MINYCricket/x]MI New York players [Source: @MINYCricket/x]

The fourth edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC) will be played in June and July next year. Much like the previous edition in 2025, the MLC 2026 season will also feature 34 games in all. However, despite the confirmation of the dates, it is yet to be officially determined whether if the USA Cricket has revoked the termination of its contract with league owners, the American Cricket Enterprises (ACE).

Nonetheless, the MI New York franchise will start out as defending champions of the competition.

MLC 2026 Dates Out, To Follow Similar Format From 2025

Much like the MLC 2025 season earlier this year, the 2026 edition of the tournament will also be played during the June and July window. Set to be played from June 18 until July 18, the significance of this window is that it will allow the league to operate in the US without facing any scheduling clash with other major T20 franchise events in the world, thus possibly opening windows for a comparatively bigger international talent pool.

The MLC itself, however, continues to get plagued with a contractual dispute between USA Cricket and ACE. The USA Cricket previously terminated its agreement with ACE, and there has been no official confirmation regarding the reversal of that decision yet.

Nonetheless, the MLC 2026 season will continue to be a six-team event, with franchises like Los Angeles Knight Riders, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, Washington Freedom and defending champions MI New York all lining up to reprise their roles. Earlier reports indicated that the league will expand to eight teams for the 2027 edition of the tournament.