The European T20 Premier League 2026, also known as ETPL 2026, will begin on August 26, 2026, with Rotterdam Dockers facing Amsterdam Flames in Voorburg, Netherlands.
The inaugural season will run until September 20, 2026, when the first ETPL champion will be crowned in Malahide, Ireland.
Six franchises from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands will take part. The tournament has 32 matches, including 30 league games, one Qualifier and the Final. Each team will face every other team twice during the league stage.
Big names such as Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Faf du Plessis, Mitchell Santner and R Ashwin will lead franchises. The league also features players such as Steve Smith, Trent Boult, Liam Livingstone, Heinrich Klaasen, Paul Stirling and Ajinkya Rahane.
European T20 Premier League 2026 at a Glance
The 2026 season is the first edition of the European T20 Premier League. It is an ICC-sanctioned franchise competition built around teams from three European cricket nations.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | European T20 Premier League 2026 |
| Short Name | ETPL 2026 |
| Edition | Inaugural season |
| Start Date | August 26, 2026 |
| Final | September 20, 2026 |
| Teams | 6 |
| Total Matches | 32 |
| League Matches | 30 |
| Knockout Matches | 2 |
| Format | Double round-robin + Qualifier + Final |
| Countries Represented | Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands |
| Match Locations | Voorburg, Netherlands and Malahide, Ireland |
| First Match | Rotterdam Dockers vs Amsterdam Flames |
| Final Venue | Malahide, Ireland |
| Status | ICC sanctioned |
The first 17 scheduled matches will take place in Voorburg. The competition then moves to Malahide, which hosts the remaining league games, the Qualifier and the Final.
European T20 Premier League 2026 Full Schedule and Fixtures
The ETPL starts on August 26 in the Netherlands. After the Voorburg leg, teams move to Ireland for the second part of the tournament.
The current official fixture list contains 32 matches from August 26 to September 20.
| Date | Match | Venue | Local Time / IST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26 | Rotterdam Dockers vs Amsterdam Flames | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Aug 27 | Belfast Wolves vs Dublin Guardians | Voorburg | 11:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Aug 27 | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Glasgow Cosmic | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Aug 28 | Amsterdam Flames vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Aug 29 | Glasgow Cosmic vs Dublin Guardians | Voorburg | 11:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Aug 29 | Rotterdam Dockers vs Belfast Wolves | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Aug 30 | Amsterdam Flames vs Belfast Wolves | Voorburg | 11:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Aug 30 | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Dublin Guardians | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 1 | Glasgow Cosmic vs Rotterdam Dockers | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 2 | Dublin Guardians vs Rotterdam Dockers | Voorburg | 11:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Sep 2 | Belfast Wolves vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 3 | Amsterdam Flames vs Glasgow Cosmic | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 4 | Glasgow Cosmic vs Belfast Wolves | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 5 | Rotterdam Dockers vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Voorburg | 11:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Sep 5 | Dublin Guardians vs Amsterdam Flames | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 6 | Glasgow Cosmic vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Voorburg | 11:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Sep 6 | Amsterdam Flames vs Rotterdam Dockers | Voorburg | 3:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 9 | Dublin Guardians vs Belfast Wolves | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 10 | Rotterdam Dockers vs Glasgow Cosmic | Malahide | 10:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Sep 10 | Belfast Wolves vs Amsterdam Flames | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 11 | Dublin Guardians vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 12 | Belfast Wolves vs Rotterdam Dockers | Malahide | 10:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Sep 12 | Dublin Guardians vs Glasgow Cosmic | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 13 | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Amsterdam Flames | Malahide | 10:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Sep 13 | Belfast Wolves vs Glasgow Cosmic | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 15 | Amsterdam Flames vs Dublin Guardians | Malahide | 10:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Sep 15 | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Rotterdam Dockers | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 16 | Glasgow Cosmic vs Amsterdam Flames | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 17 | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Belfast Wolves | Malahide | 10:30 AM / 3:00 PM |
| Sep 17 | Rotterdam Dockers vs Dublin Guardians | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 19 | Qualifier: TBD vs TBD | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
| Sep 20 | Final: TBD vs TBD | Malahide | 2:15 PM / 6:45 PM |
Times are taken from the official ETPL fixture list and may change if the league revises its schedule.
How the European T20 Premier League 2026 Format Works
ETPL uses a straightforward format for its first season.
All six teams play in a double round-robin league. This means every franchise faces the other five teams twice. Each side therefore plays 10 league matches, producing 30 league games overall.
The league table is especially important because only three teams continue after the 30-match stage.
- The team finishing first goes directly into the Final.
- Teams finishing second and third play the Qualifier.
- The Qualifier winner advances to the Final.
- The Final takes place in Malahide on September 20.
This gives the league leader a clear reward. Finishing first means avoiding an extra knockout match.
All 6 European T20 Premier League 2026 Teams
The inaugural ETPL has two teams representing Ireland, two representing Scotland and two representing the Netherlands.
| Team | Country | Captain | Key Ownership/Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Flames | Netherlands | Mitchell Marsh | Steve Waugh-led consortium |
| Belfast Wolves | Ireland | Glenn Maxwell | Floodlight Capital Consortium, Glenn Maxwell |
| Dublin Guardians | Ireland | R Ashwin | Rahul Dravid-led ownership |
| Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Scotland | Mitchell Santner | Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum-led consortium |
| Rotterdam Dockers | Netherlands | Faf du Plessis | Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes, Heinrich Klaasen, John Abraham and partners |
| Glasgow Cosmic | Scotland | Not officially listed yet | Matthew Hayden and Mugafi Group |
Amsterdam, Belfast, Edinburgh, Dublin, Glasgow and Rotterdam give the league six different city identities, even though all 2026 matches are scheduled in Voorburg and Malahide.
1. Amsterdam Flames
Amsterdam Flames arrive with one of the biggest international groups in the league.
Mitchell Marsh will captain the team. Steve Waugh is part of the ownership group, while Steve Smith and Tim David add plenty of experience to the batting unit. Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane also joined Amsterdam as a marquee player in August.
The Flames also used the ETPL draft to build a strong European core. Their six draft selections were Curtis Campher, Kyle Klein, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Jordan Neill and Max O’Dowd.
Key confirmed players: Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Tim David, Ajinkya Rahane, Curtis Campher, Max O’Dowd, Aryan Dutt and Tim Pringle.
For a first-season franchise, that is a fairly deep mix of international experience and local knowledge.
2. Belfast Wolves
Belfast Wolves will have Glenn Maxwell as both captain and co-owner. The Australian all-rounder is the central figure around which Belfast have built their first squad.
Paul Stirling gives the batting order plenty of experience. Belfast also drafted Matthew Humphreys, Fred Klaassen, Tim Tector, Zainullah Ihsan and Alexander Roy.
Key confirmed players: Glenn Maxwell, Paul Stirling, Matthew Humphreys, Fred Klaassen, Tim Tector, Zainullah Ihsan and Alexander Roy.
Belfast’s squad has a strong Irish base but still brings together players from all three founding cricket nations.
3. Dublin Guardians
Few new franchises can point to Rahul Dravid and R Ashwin in their setup.
Dravid is part of the ownership group, while Ashwin will serve as captain and mentor.
Dublin’s six draft selections were Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Matthew Hollard, Craig Young, Noah Croes and Chris Greaves. Four of the six came from Ireland.
Key confirmed players: R Ashwin, George Dockrell, Craig Young, Benjamin Calitz, Matthew Hollard, Noah Croes and Chris Greaves.
The Guardians have clearly leaned towards players who can cover more than one role instead of building around specialists alone.
4. Edinburgh Castle Rockers
The Edinburgh Castle Rockers have a strong New Zealand connection.
Mitchell Santner will captain the franchise. Former New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum are part of the ownership group.
The squad also includes two major international names in Trent Boult and Liam Livingstone.
Key confirmed players: Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult and Liam Livingstone, along with European players selected for the franchise.
Santner’s calm leadership and Boult’s new-ball bowling could make Edinburgh an interesting side in conditions where movement may play a role.
5. Rotterdam Dockers
Rotterdam Dockers have perhaps the most unusual ownership and playing combination in the league.
South African stars Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes and Heinrich Klaasen are part of the ownership group, along with actor and sports investor John Abraham. Du Plessis will captain the side, while Klaasen will also play.
The Dockers backed local Dutch talent during the player draft. Their picks included emerging fast bowler Jai Moondra, Ryan Klein, Jasper Davidson, Vikramjit Singh and Saqib Zulfiqar among their European additions.
Key confirmed players: Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Jai Moondra, Ryan Klein, Vikramjit Singh and Saqib Zulfiqar.
Rotterdam also get the honour of playing the first match in ETPL history when they face Amsterdam on August 26.
6. Glasgow Cosmic
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden is a co-owner and head coach of Glasgow Cosmic. He works alongside the Mugafi Group in the franchise setup.
The official Glasgow team page had not named a captain as of August 13, 2026.
The franchise went heavily towards Scottish players in the draft. Glasgow selected Brad Currie, Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson and Chris McBride, along with Netherlands fast bowler Paul van Meekeren.
Gerhard Erasmus and Moises Henriques are also among the players linked to the Glasgow squad in official ETPL material.
Key confirmed players: Brad Currie, Matthew Cross, Paul van Meekeren, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson, Chris McBride, Gerhard Erasmus and Moises Henriques.
Glasgow’s local-heavy approach makes them one of the clearest examples of what ETPL is trying to build around European talent.
ETPL 2026 Venues
Although the franchises come from six cities, the first edition will use two main locations.
| Venue/Location | Country | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Voorburg | Netherlands | Opening leg |
| Malahide | Ireland | Second leg, Qualifier and Final |
The official schedule currently places Matches 1 to 17 in Voorburg. Matches 18 to 32 take place in Malahide.
The Voorburg matches are linked with Sportpark Westvliet, while Malahide is one of Ireland’s best-known international cricket locations.
Where to Watch European T20 Premier League 2026 Live
ETPL has announced broadcast deals across several major cricket markets.
| Region | TV/Digital Partner |
|---|---|
| India | JioStar |
| United Kingdom & Ireland | TNT Sports |
| UK & Ireland Digital | HBO Max |
| United States & Canada | Willow / Cricbuzz |
| Middle East & North Africa | Willow / Cricbuzz |
| Southeast Asia | Willow / Cricbuzz |
JioStar will carry ETPL across its television and digital platforms in India. TNT Sports and HBO Max cover the UK and Ireland, while Willow and Cricbuzz hold rights across several other major international markets.
The league has said further broadcast arrangements may also be announced for additional territories.
Why ETPL 2026 Is Different From Other T20 Leagues
ETPL is not simply placing six franchise names on a European map.
The league was created through cooperation involving cricket in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. It also received ICC sanction to stage the professional T20 competition.
There is also a clear focus on European players.
During the player draft, 12 players each from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands were selected across the six franchises. That gave the competition 36 drafted players from its three core cricket nations.
International stars provide attention, but local players remain a major part of the team structure.
That could be the most important part of ETPL’s first season. Young European players get regular matches alongside cricketers who have spent years playing international and franchise cricket.
Biggest Stars Playing in European T20 Premier League 2026
Several familiar international names have already joined ETPL teams.
Some of the biggest confirmed names include:
- Glenn Maxwell – Belfast Wolves
- Mitchell Marsh – Amsterdam Flames
- Steve Smith – Amsterdam Flames
- Ajinkya Rahane – Amsterdam Flames
- Tim David – Amsterdam Flames
- R Ashwin – Dublin Guardians
- Mitchell Santner – Edinburgh Castle Rockers
- Trent Boult – Edinburgh Castle Rockers
- Liam Livingstone – Edinburgh Castle Rockers
- Faf du Plessis – Rotterdam Dockers
- Heinrich Klaasen – Rotterdam Dockers
- Paul Stirling – Belfast Wolves
The player mix is one of the league’s strongest early selling points. Experienced global names will share teams with players from Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and other emerging cricket nations.
European T20 Premier League 2026 Prize Money
ETPL had not publicly listed a confirmed prize-money breakdown in the official tournament information reviewed as of August 13, 2026.
That means any figures circulating without an official league announcement should be treated carefully.
The safer approach is to wait for ETPL to confirm the winner’s prize, runner-up payment and any individual awards.
European T20 Premier League 2026: Key Numbers
Here are the main numbers to remember before the tournament starts:
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Teams | 6 |
| Countries represented | 3 |
| League matches | 30 |
| Total matches | 32 |
| Matches per team in league stage | 10 |
| Knockout matches | 2 |
| Match locations | 2 |
| Teams reaching postseason | 3 |
| Direct Final spot | League-stage winner |
| Tournament length | August 26 to September 20 |
The numbers keep the first edition fairly compact. Every franchise gets ten league games, but only half of the field stays alive after the league stage.
Conclusion: European T20 Premier League 2026 Starts on August 26
The European T20 Premier League 2026 starts on August 26 and ends on September 20, with six franchises competing across 32 matches.
Rotterdam Dockers and Amsterdam Flames open the tournament in Voorburg. The competition later shifts to Malahide, where the Qualifier and Final will decide the first ETPL champion.
There are plenty of established names to watch, from Maxwell and Marsh to Ashwin, Santner and du Plessis. But the bigger test for ETPL will be what it does for players from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
For a new league, that gives the first season something worth following beyond just the trophy.
