Wicked set to perform at Women's T20 World Cup opening ceremony
Globally acclaimed West End musical Wicked will light up Edgbaston in a landmark opening ceremony at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, stars Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen will lead the full cast of Wicked as Elphaba and Glinda in a live performance before hosts England take on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The performance forms part of the ICC’s vision to elevate the tournament beyond sport by creating culturally significant experiences that combine elite cricket with world-class entertainment.
The event also coincides with the 20th anniversary of Wicked’s celebrated run in London’s West End.
With more than 150,000 tickets already sold, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has become the highest-selling edition of the tournament to date, with anticipation continuing to build ahead of the opening fixture in Birmingham.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta was elated to join hands with Wicked to attract a wider audience to cricket.
“Our core belief is that the ICC’s marquee global events should serve as platforms for content, community, culture and commerce with the athletic spectacle as the core product.
“Partnering with the globally celebrated production of Wicked for the opening ceremony of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 reflects our ambition to take the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 beyond its existing position of a premier sporting event into expanded realms of culture and entertainment. The association with Wicked also helps attract an audience which is increasingly seeking novel, enriching, big-event experiences.
“We want to blend sport, music and culture in a way that transcends the traditional boundaries around our competitions. With this performance, we aim to create an immersive, globally resonant moment that drives deeper interest for the event, targets wider cohorts of fans and fosters an enriched sense of community.
“The Women’s T20 World Cup has grown into one of the most watched and followed women’s sporting events globally, and with this opening ceremony, we are demonstrating that the ICC is committed to delivering novel, world-class experiences both in the stadium and across engagement platforms to billions of fans.”
'Catch the Spirit' of the champions with ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 TVC
Catch the Spirit of the champions, as the world’s best take centre stage at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
A Wicked spokesperson said: “For 20 years Wicked has brought audiences together through unforgettable live performance, so to open the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in front of a global sporting audience is incredibly exciting for us.
“There is a real sense of drama, emotion and anticipation shared between theatre and live sport, and this performance is a chance to bring those worlds together in a truly unique way on one of the biggest stages possible.”
Women’s T20 World Cup LOC Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild said: “You wouldn't normally expect to see world-class cricket sharing the same stage as a hit West End musical, but that is exactly what makes this such an unmissable way to open the tournament.
“Bringing the magic of Wicked and its hugely talented cast to Edgbaston will create an epic night of spectacle, emotion, and atmosphere. It will also set the tone for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, opening 24 days of competition showcasing the very best in global cricket, with dramatic showdowns, unlimited excitement and gravity-defying moments of unparalleled sporting skill. We can’t wait to get things started!”
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 are available now via tickets.womens.t20worldcup.com.