2026 T20 Blast
| Dates | 22 May – 18 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Administrator | England and Wales Cricket Board |
| Cricket format | Twenty20 |
| Tournament format(s) | Group stage and knockout |
| Host(s) | England Wales |
| Champions | Northamptonshire Steelbacks (3rd title) |
| Runners-up | Hampshire Hawks |
| Participants | 18 |
| Matches | 115 |
| Most runs | Joe Weatherley (591) (Hampshire Hawks) |
| Most wickets | Hasan Ali (27) (Yorkshire) |
| Official website | Vitality Blast |
The 2026 T20 Blast (also known as the 2026 Vitality Blast for sponsoring reasons) was the 24th edition of the T20 Blast (currently known as the Vitality Blast), a professional Twenty20 cricket league played in England and Wales. The tournament was played from 22 May to 18 July 2026.[1][2] The domestic T20 competition was run by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and branded as the Vitality Blast due to the tournament's sponsorship.[3]
Somerset were the defending champions, having won their third title in 2025.[4] In the final, Northamptonshire Steelbacks defeated Hampshire Hawks by 14 runs to win their third title.[5][6]
Format
The playing format was changed from this season; with the two groups of nine sides replaced by three groups of six split into north, central, and south groups, as they were in the 2020 edition.[7][8] Each county played 12 group-stage matches, six at home and six away. Counties played the other five counties in their group home and away, in addition to one home match against a county from outside their group and one away match against another county from outside their group.
For the knockout rounds, the top two teams qualified for the quarter finals in addition to the two best third-placed teams. The winners of each quarter final qualify for Finals Day.
Group Division
The teams were divided into the following groups:[9]
- North Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Durham, Lancashire, Leicestershire Foxes, Notts Outlaws, Yorkshire
- Central & West Group: Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Somerset, Warwickshire Bears, Worcestershire Rapids
- South Group: Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Kent Spitfires, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex Sharks
Standings
North Group
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | NR | Pts | NRR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notts Outlaws | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0.169 | Advanced to the quarter-final |
| 2 | Yorkshire | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0.720 | |
| 3 | Lancashire | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 26 | −0.335 | |
| 4 | Durham | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0.462 | |
| 5 | Derbyshire Falcons | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0.393 | |
| 6 | Leicestershire Foxes | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 12 | −1.600 |
Central & West Group
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0.936 | Advanced to the quarter-final |
| 2 | Somerset | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0.763 | |
| 3 | Gloucestershire | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0.288 | |
| 4 | Warwickshire Bears | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 0.367 | |
| 5 | Glamorgan | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 0.217 | |
| 6 | Worcestershire Rapids | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 24 | −0.337 |
South Group
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampshire Hawks | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0.283 | Advanced to the quarter-final |
| 2 | Surrey | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0.666 | |
| 3 | Essex | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0.354 | |
| 4 | Kent Spitfires | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 16 | −0.895 | |
| 5 | Middlesex | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 16 | −1.243 | |
| 6 | Sussex Sharks | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 10[a] | −1.168 |
Fixtures
May
Essex 191/5 (20 overs) |
v |
Sussex Sharks 192/4 (16 overs) |
- Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to field.
- Simon Fernandes (Essex) made his T20 debut.
Surrey 213/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Lancashire Lightning 154 (16.1 overs) |
- Lancashire Lightning won the toss and elected to field.
- Adam Thomas (Surrey) and Joe Moores (Lancashire Lightning) both made their T20 debuts.
Kent Spitfires 208/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Middlesex 181/8 (20 overs) |
- Kent Spitfires won the toss and elected to bat.
- Caleb Falconer (Middlesex) made his T20 debut.
Durham 203/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Derbyshire Falcons 197/8 (20 overs) |
- Derbyshire Falcons won the toss and elected to field.
- Amrit Basra (Derbyshire Falcons) made his T20 debut.
Hampshire Hawks 158 (19.4 overs) |
v |
Somerset 160/3 (16.2 overs) |
- Somerset won the toss and elected to field.
- Manny Lumsden (Hampshire Hawks) made his T20 debut.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 165/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Glamorgan 162/8 (20 overs) |
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field.
Gloucestershire 121 (16.1 overs) |
v |
Warwickshire Bears 74 (14.4 overs) |
- Warwickshire Bears won the toss and elected to field.
- Kamran Dhariwal (Gloucestershire), Tazeem Ali and Vansh Jani (Warwickshire Bears) made their T20 debuts.
Notts Outlaws 167/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Yorkshire 169/3 (16.3 overs) |
- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Joe Pocklington (Notts Outlaws) made his T20 debut.
Worcestershire Rapids 188/9 (20 overs) |
v |
Leicestershire Foxes 170/4 (20 overs) |
- Leicestershire Foxes won the toss and elected to field.
Glamorgan 157/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Gloucestershire 158/8 (20 overs) |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Henry Hurle (Glamorgan) made his T20 debut.
Leicestershire Foxes 148/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Durham 150/4 (14 overs) |
- Leicestershire Foxes won the toss and elected to bat.
Warwickshire Bears 189/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Somerset 193/3 (18.2 overs) |
- Warwickshire Bears won the toss and elected to bat.
Derbyshire Falcons 194/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Yorkshire 195/8 (19.2 overs) |
- Derbyshire Falcons won the toss and elected to bat.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 191 (20 overs) |
v |
Worcestershire Rapids 91 (14.4 overs) |
- Northamptonshire Steelbacks won the toss and elected to bat.
Lancashire Lightning 208/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Notts Outlaws 169/9 (20 overs) |
- Lancashire Lightning won the toss and elected to bat.
- Harry Singh (Lancashire Lightning) made his T20 debut.
Sussex Sharks 197/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Kent Spitfires 199/3 (18.2 overs) |
- Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to bat.
- Bertie Foreman (Kent Spitfires) made his T20 debut.
Hampshire Hawks 200/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Essex 170/7 (20 overs) |
- Essex won the toss and elected to field.
- Andrew Neal (Hampshire Hawks) made his T20 debut.
Derbyshire Falcons 230/5 (20 overs) |
v |
Leicestershire Foxes 145 (15.2 overs) |
- Leicestershire Foxes won the toss and elected to field.
- Alex Green (Leicestershire Foxes) made his T20 debut.
Lancashire Lightning 145/9 (20 overs) |
v |
Leicestershire Foxes 146/8 (19.5 overs) |
- Lancashire Lightning won the toss and elected to bat.
Derbyshire Falcons 234/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Notts Outlaws 211/6 (20 overs) |
- Derbyshire Falcons won the toss and elected to bat.
Gloucestershire 164/9 (20 overs) |
v |
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 166/3 (16.2 overs) |
- Northamptonshire Steelbacks won the toss and elected to field.
Warwickshire Bears 141 (19.5 overs) |
v |
Worcestershire Rapids 142/4 (18.5 overs) |
- Worcestershire Rapids won the toss and elected to field.
Middlesex 213/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Sussex Sharks 182 (19.4 overs) |
- Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to field.
Derbyshire Falcons 173 (20 overs) |
v |
Essex 179/5 (19.4 overs) |
- Derbyshire Falcons won the toss and elected to bat.
Warwickshire Bears 208/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 209/4 (19.2 overs) |
- Warwickshire Bears won the toss and elected to bat.
- Zen Malik (Warwickshire Bears) made his T20 debut.
Gloucestershire 217/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Yorkshire 161 (17.4 overs) |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Joe Phillips (Gloucestershire) made his T20 debut.
Middlesex 126/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Hampshire Hawks 130/2 (14 overs) |
- Hampshire Hawks won the toss and elected to field.
Durham 156/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Notts Outlaws 157/4 (17.2 overs) |
- Notts Outlaws won the toss and elected to field.
June
Hampshire Hawks 173/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Sussex Sharks 144 (17.3 overs) |
- Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to field.
Yorkshire 213/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Lancashire Lightning 107 (14.3 overs) |
- Lancashire Lightning won the toss and elected to field.
Sussex Sharks 179 (19.5 overs) |
v |
Leicestershire Foxes 180/6 (17.4 overs) |
- Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to bat.
- Sean Hunt (Sussex Sharks) made his T20 debut.
Somerset 137/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Gloucestershire 138/3 (14.1 overs) |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field.
Warwickshire Bears 139 (19.3 overs) |
v |
Notts Outlaws 143/7 (19.5 overs) |
- Notts Outlaws won the toss and elected to field.
Worcestershire Rapids 168/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Glamorgan 141 (19.3 overs) |
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 145/9 (20 overs) |
v |
Durham 138/8 (20 overs) |
- Durham won the toss and elected to field.
- James Minto (Durham) made his T20 debut.
Lancashire Lightning 201/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Glamorgan 202/8 (20 overs) |
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field.
Kent Spitfires 133/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Sussex Sharks 135/3 (17.2 overs) |
- Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to field.
Somerset 215/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Warwickshire Bears 216/4 (19.4 overs) |
- Warwickshire Bears won the toss and elected to field.
- Alfie Ogborne (Somerset) made his T20 debut.
Gloucestershire 148/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Worcestershire Rapids 145 (20 overs) |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
Notts Outlaws 183/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Derbyshire Falcons 173/9 (20 overs) |
- Derbyshire Falcons won the toss and elected to field.
Leicestershire Foxes 147/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Yorkshire 135 (19.5 overs) |
- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field.
Essex 187/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Kent Spitfires 184/9 (20 overs) |
- Kent Spitfires won the toss and elected to field.
Durham 128/2 (10 overs) |
v |
Lancashire Lightning 130/3 (9.1 overs) |
- Durham won the toss and elected to bat.
Worcestershire Rapids 154/5 (18 overs) |
v |
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 162/4 (16 overs) |
- Northants Steelbacks won the toss and elected to field.
Warwickshire Bears 224 (20 overs) |
v |
Worcestershire Rapids 165/7 (20 overs) |
- Warwickshire Bears won the toss and elected to field.
Middlesex 153/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Glamorgan 159/4 (17.3 overs) |
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field.
Sussex Sharks 171 (19.3 overs) |
v |
Surrey 175/3 (15.3 overs) |
- Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to bat.
Somerset 194/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Gloucestershire 176/7 (20 overs) |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Daaryoush Ahmed (Gloucestershire) made his T20 debut.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 238/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Essex 108 (13.2 overs) |
- Essex won the toss and elected to field.
Kent Spitfires 184/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Notts Outlaws 187/6 (18.4 overs) |
- Notts Outlaws won the toss and elected to field.
Leicestershire Foxes 156/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Lancashire Lightning 160/5 (18.5 overs) |
- Lancashire Lightning won the toss and elected to field.
Hampshire Hawks 150 (19.5 overs) |
v |
Yorkshire 155/8 (19.5 overs) |
- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field.
Yorkshire 215/9 (20 overs) |
v |
Derbyshire Falcons 215/8 (20 overs) |
- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Yousaf Bin Naeem (Derbyshire Falcons) made his T20 debut.
Hampshire Hawks 176/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Kent Spitfires 177/3 (18.4 overs) |
- Kent Spitfires won the toss and elected to field.
Notts Outlaws 209/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Leicestershire Foxes 135 (17.5 overs) |
- Leicestershire Foxes won the toss and elected to field.
Worcestershire Rapids 180/5 (20 overs) |
v |
Somerset 144/9 (20 overs) |
- Somerset won the toss and elected to field.
July
Warwickshire Bears 198/3 (20 overs) |
v |
Sussex Sharks 122 (16.3 overs) |
- Warwickshire Bears won the toss and elected to bat.
Lancashire Lightning 205 (20 overs) |
v |
Derbyshire Falcons 201 (20 overs) |
- Derbyshire Falcons won the toss and elected to field.
Gloucestershire 184/2 (20 overs) |
v |
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 187/2 (17.2 overs) |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
Warwickshire Bears 184/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Glamorgan 187/3 (18.5 overs) |
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field.
Notts Outlaws 181/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Lancashire Lightning 180/7 (20 overs) |
- Lancashire Lightning won the toss and elected to field.
Worcestershire Rapids 142/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Kent Spitfires 59 (14.1 overs) |
- Kent Spitfires won the toss and elected to field.
Gloucestershire 191/5 (20 overs) |
v |
Surrey 134 (19.4 overs) |
- Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
- James Hayes (Gloucestershire) made his T20 debut.
Warwickshire Bears 203/5 (20 overs) |
v |
Gloucestershire 173/6 (20 overs) |
- Warwickshire Bears won the toss and elected to bat.
Yorkshire 207/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Leicestershire Foxes 166/9 (20 overs) |
- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat.
Worcestershire Rapids 161/9 (20 overs) |
v |
Glamorgan 146 (19.2 overs) |
- Worcestershire Rapids won the toss and elected to bat.
Somerset 223/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 118 (15.3 overs) |
- Northamptonshire Steelbacks won the toss and elected to field.
Hampshire Hawks 190/3 (20 overs) |
v |
Kent Spitfires 171 (19.2 overs) |
- Kent Spitfires won the toss and elected to field.
Derbyshire Falcons 150/9 (20 overs) |
v |
Lancashire Lightning 150/8 (20 overs) |
- Derbyshire Falcons won the toss and elected to bat.
Sussex Sharks 176/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Surrey 177/2 (17.2 overs) |
- Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to bat.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 217/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Glamorgan 164 (18.3 overs) |
- Northamptonshire Steelbacks won the toss and elected to bat.
Derbyshire Falcons 214/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Somerset 187/7 (20 overs) |
- Somerset won the toss and elected to bat.
Leicestershire Foxes 156/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Durham 160/2 (15 overs) |
- Leicestershire Foxes won the toss and elected to bat.
Hampshire Hawks 159/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Middlesex 162/5 (19 overs) |
- Middlesex won the toss and elected to field.
Glamorgan 188/4 (20 overs) |
v |
Warwickshire Bears 191/6 (19.5 overs) |
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bat.
Lancashire Lightning 216/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Yorkshire 194/8 (20 overs) |
- Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat.
Sussex Sharks 213/3 (20 overs) |
v |
Middlesex 195/9 (20 overs) |
- Middlesex won the toss and elected to field.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 162/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Somerset 164/3 (15 overs) |
- Somerset won the toss and elected to field.
Kent Spitfires 102 (17 overs) |
v |
Surrey 106/1 (8.5 overs) |
- Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
- Ekansh Singh (Kent Spitfires) made his T20 debut.
Leicestershire Foxes 143/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Notts Outlaws 149/4 (18.2 overs) |
- Leicestershire Foxes won the toss and elected to bat.
- Sheridon Gumbs (Leicestershire Foxes) made his T20 debut.
Worcestershire Rapids 181/5 (20 overs) |
v |
Gloucestershire 182/8 (19 overs) |
- Worcestershire Rapids won the toss and elected to bat.
- Dan Lategan (Worcestershre Rapids) made his T20 debut.
Durham 141 (20 overs) |
v |
Lancashire Lightning 142/7 (19.4 overs) |
- Durham won the toss and elected to bat.
Sussex Sharks 186/5 (20 overs) |
v |
Hampshire Hawks 190/6 (19.5 overs) |
- Hampshire Hawks won the toss and elected to field.
Leicestershire Foxes 178/8 (20 overs) |
v |
Derbyshire Falcons 172/3 (14.3 overs) |
- Leicestershire Foxes won the toss and elected to bat.
Somerset 194/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Worcestershire Rapids 116 (16 overs) |
- Worcestershire Rapids won the toss and elected to field.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 153 (20 overs) |
v |
Warwickshire Bears 154/5 (18.2 overs) |
- Northamptonshire Steelbacks won the toss and elected to bat.
- Hamza Shaikh (Warwickshire Bears) made his T20 debut.
Glamorgan 235/7 (20 overs) |
v |
Gloucestershire 185 (19.1 overs) |
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bat.
Middlesex 172/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Kent Spitfires 158/7 (20 overs) |
- Kent Spitfires won the toss and elected to bat.
- Jaydn Denly (Kent Spitfires) made his T20 debut.
Knock-out stage
Bracket
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||
| C1 | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | 153/2 | ||||||||||||
| C3 | Gloucestershire | 152 | ||||||||||||
| Q2 | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | 143 (19.2 overs) | ||||||||||||
| Q4 | Somerset | 126/9 (20 overs) | ||||||||||||
| N2 | Yorkshire | 161/9 | ||||||||||||
| C2 | Somerset | 162/8 | ||||||||||||
| SF1 | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | 169 (19.5 overs) | ||||||||||||
| SF2 | Hampshire Hawks | 155 (19.2 overs) | ||||||||||||
| N1 | Notts Outlaws | 163/6 | ||||||||||||
| S2 | Surrey | 156/7 | ||||||||||||
| Q3 | not-t | 160 (19.5 overs) | ||||||||||||
| Q1 | Hampshire Hawks | 187/3 (20 overs) | ||||||||||||
| S1 | Hampshire Hawks | 211/3 | ||||||||||||
| S3 | Essex | 136/9 | ||||||||||||
Quarter-finals
Gloucestershire 152 (20 overs) |
v |
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 153/2 (17.4 overs) |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
Notts Outlaws 163/6 (20 overs) |
v |
Surrey 156/7 (20 overs) |
- Notts Outlaws won the toss and elected to bat.
Finals Day
Semi-finals
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 143 (19.2 overs) |
v |
Somerset 126/9 (20 overs) |
- Somerset won the toss and elected to field.
Hampshire Hawks 187/3 (20 overs) |
v |
Notts Outlaws 160 (19.5 overs) |
- Notts Outlaws won the toss and elected to field.
Final
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 169 (19.5 overs) |
v |
Hampshire Hawks 155 (19.2 overs) |
- Hampshire Hawks won the toss and elected to field.
References
- ↑ "Vitality Blast 2026 fixtures released". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ "Counties agree to cut in men's Vitality Blast games for 2026". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ "Counties approve format overhaul for white-ball competitions from 2026". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ "Smeed takes Somerset past Hants to win T20 Blast". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ "Northants claim third T20 Blast title after beating Hants". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "Vitality Blast Final: Northamptonshire beat Hampshire to win third title after see-saw clash at Edgbaston". Sky Sports. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "T20 Blast to be revamped in 2026". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ "T20 Blast to lose two matches per team in 2026 in latest domestic cricket reshuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ "Vitality Blast fixtures 2026: Men's competition matches, dates, groups, and day-by-day schedule, including Finals Day". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ "Sussex enters agreement with ECB following exceptional funding request". ECB. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sussex Cricket enters three-year financial framework with ECB". Sussex County Cricket Club. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "County hit with heavy cross-competition points penalty as ECB institute financial special measures". Wisden. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.