ICC SET TO DELIVER BIGGEST WOMEN’S SPORTING EVENT IN GLOBAL DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT

Media release

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled a range of digital fan engagement initiatives that will make the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 the most digitally engaged and globally accessible women’s sporting event.

Designed around a fan-first philosophy, the initiatives will make it easier than ever for fans, audiences and event-samplers to discover, follow and engage with the tournament. The portfolio of experiences being rolled-out cover a diverse spectrum of fan cohorts, ranging from passionate cricket fans attending matches in England and Wales to new audiences experiencing women’s cricket for the first time in emerging markets.

From expanded language coverage and free global streaming to creator-led storytelling, gaming experiences and AI-powered fan tools, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will offer more ways than ever for fans to connect with the game, the spectacle and the culture with the athletes at the centre of it.

ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta, said: “Our ambition for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is to make it the biggest women’s sporting event ever. We want to design the event as an aggregate of fan-focused experiences serving as a platform for creativity, commerce, community and culture. From attention-grabbing activations to immersive experiences aimed at deepening affiliation, there is something relevant for every fan journey.

“We want to bring fans closer to the game than ever before and create more opportunities for people to discover, follow and fall in love with women’s cricket. These initiatives will help continue building the global momentum behind the women’s game. In doing so, we want to ensure the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 leaves a lasting legacy felt by generations to come.”

More countries, more languages

For the first time in the tournament’s history, ICC.tv coverage will be available in nine languages globally: English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Japanese, Thai, Dutch, Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesia.

Every match will be streamed in English and Hindi, while additional language broadcasts will be produced for marquee fixtures to specific audiences, including Urdu coverage for Pakistan games and Bengali coverage for Bangladesh fixtures.

All matches will be free to air in more than 80 territories on ICC.tv and, in another first for an ICC Women’s event, shown on the ICC’s official YouTube and Facebook channels, significantly expanding access for fans around the world.

Warm-up matches are being streamed globally on ICC.tv, YouTube and Facebook in selected territories, providing supporters with additional opportunities to follow teams in the build-up to the tournament. Live radio commentary of every match, produced by the BBC, will be available globally through the ICC App.

Global Creator Programme returns

The ICC Creator Programme, which debuted during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, will return for the Women’s event, inviting global content creators to tell the story of the tournament through their own online communities.

Creators will receive access to exclusive events, behind-the-scenes experiences and matchday activity, helping showcase the personalities, stories and moments that make the tournament unique.

Fans will also benefit from the return of ICC Insights, the AI-powered companion available through the ICC App. 

Building on its successful debut earlier this year, ICC Insights has been enhanced with expanded women’s cricket data and analysis and will feature the voice of former ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup winner and renowned broadcaster, Isa Guha.

Digital-world engagement, real-world participation

The tournament will also extend into gaming through the launch of ‘Catch the Spirit’ on Roblox, one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.

Building on an existing cricket world developed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the experience places players inside a fully branded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 stadium where they can compete in fast-paced catching challenges to earn points and unlock exclusive tournament-themed rewards.

The activation has been designed to encourage real-world participation, with UK-based players aged 13 and over, giving them the chance to take their love of the game off-screen and onto the pitch.

Also new for 2026 is the Aramco Fan Vote Player of the Match, which will allow supporters to compare their views with the experts and vote for the player they believe had the greatest impact on the outcome of each game through the ICC App.