UK pay-TV heavyweight Sky Sports has announced that it will broadcast several matches from the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup on its free-to-air (FTA) platforms.
Sky's FTA coverage will begin with host-nation England’s opening game against Sri Lanka on June 12, which will be one of six games available on the Sky Sports Mix free linear channel. It will also be aired on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel, alongside its typical pay-TV networks.
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That will be one of four England group-stage fixtures available on the channel, with the others being the matches against Ireland (June 16), West Indies (June 24), and New Zealand (June 27).
Sky Sports Mix will also showcase the 13 June fixture between Scotland and Ireland, and the tournament’s 5 July showpiece final, as part of its efforts to expand the reach of the event.
Further to this, all 12 matches from the so-called ‘home nations’ (England, Scotland, and Ireland) will be available to stream for free live on the Sky Sports App, without requiring a subscription.
Speaking on the announcement, Sanjog Gupta, the chief executive of the ICC governing body, added: “Sanjog Gupta, CEO, International Cricket Council, said: "The ICC Women's T20 World Cup is positioned as a pinnacle event in global sport and a significant fan recruitment opportunity for women's cricket.
“This is a significant step by Sky Sports, our partner in the UK, and aligns with our strategy to widen access for fans across screens and stadia. The UK has a proud cricketing heritage, and moments like this, where the sport is accessible to everyone, on any screen, are how we garner attention and deepen affiliation, grow the next generation of fans, and ensure women's cricket takes its rightful place in national and global sporting conversations.”
Beth Barrett-Wild, the tournament director for the upcoming showcase, added: “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to bring world-class players, incredible performances, and unmissable moments to brilliant venues across England and Wales, and we couldn’t be happier that even more people will be able to experience the spectacle live via this extensive Sky Sports coverage plan.”
The ICC T20 Women’s World Cup 2026 will distribute record prize money to its participants, with the sum totalling $8,764,615. This is a 10% increase from the amount on offer at the 2024 Women's World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Mid-March saw the ICC announce the Kettle Chips brand as an official supporter of this year’s Women’s T20 World Cup.
As part of the deal, Kettle Chips, owned by Valeo Foods, will retail co-branded packs across the United Kingdom throughout the tournament and run a series of fan activations in stadiums.
Kettle Chips becomes the second official supporter alongside Indian whisky brand, Royal Stag. Other partners of ICC women's tournaments include Google and Unilever.
The 2024 World Cup was won by New Zealand, who beat South Africa in the final.
