ETPL 2026: Full Guide to Europe’s First Multi-Nation T20 League and What Sets It Apart
European cricket is entering a fresh era. Six city-based franchises from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands are coming together for the first-ever season of the European T20 Premier League. Big international names, well-known team owners, and rising European players are all part of the mix. The action runs from 26 August to 20 September, split between venues in Voorburg and Malahide. Here’s the ETPL full guide of what makes this league different, and everything you need to know before it kicks off.
What Makes the ETPL Different
Franchise T20 leagues aren’t new but most are built inside a single cricket-playing nation. The ETPL is the first to pool three separate boards, playing pools, and fan bases into one competition. Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands each have their own domestic setups, yet none alone has the scale to run a standalone T20 league the way India, Australia, or England can. The ETPL solves that by treating Europe’s Associate nations as one combined market instead of three small ones a concept that was actually tried once before and didn’t survive. Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Dutch board (KNCB) first attempted this in 2019 as the Euro T20 Slam, but it collapsed under COVID-19 and funding troubles before a ball was bowled. The ETPL rebuilds that same idea with full ICC sanction Europe’s first ICC-approved multi-country franchise competition a structured player draft, marquee overseas stars mixed with genuine European talent, and cricketing legends (Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid, Matthew Hayden, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes) directly involved as owners and coaches rather than just ambassadors. The bet is that this combination gives European cricket a sustainable, ongoing league rather than a one-off exhibition. The league was co-founded by Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra.
Season Dates
The opening season starts Wednesday, 26 August 2026, and wraps up with the Final on Sunday, 20 September. In total, fans will get 32 matches — 30 league games plus a Qualifier and a Final.
The Six Franchises
The competing sides are Amsterdam Flames, Rotterdam Dockers, Dublin Guardians, Belfast Wolves, Glasgow Cosmic, and Edinburgh Castle Rockers, representing six cities spread across the three founding cricket nations. You can check each squad’s full player list on the pages linked above.
Venues
Play begins at Voorburg Cricket Club in the Netherlands, which hosts the first 17 matches, before the tournament shifts to Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin for the remaining league games and the knockout stage. Malahide stages the closing league fixtures, the Qualifier on 19 September, and the Final on 20 September.
Schedule Snapshot
Things get underway on 26 August with Rotterdam Dockers taking on Amsterdam Flames in Voorburg. A day later, Belfast Wolves face Dublin Guardians and Edinburgh Castle Rockers meet Glasgow Cosmic. Matches continue in Voorburg through 6 September, after which the league moves to Malahide, running until 17 September, followed by the Qualifier (19 September) and the Final (20 September). For the full day-by-day list, check the complete ETPL schedule.
Match Timings
There are generally two slots each day. Day games start at 11:30 AM local time in the Netherlands and Ireland (10:30 AM at Malahide), while evening games start at 3:15 PM in Voorburg or 2:15 PM at Malahide. It’s worth double-checking each fixture individually before heading to the ground.
Tournament Format
Every franchise plays all the others twice, adding up to 30 league fixtures. Whoever tops the table after the league stage goes straight to the Final. The second- and third-placed teams face off in the Qualifier on 19 September, and the winner of that clash meets the table-topper in the Final the next day a version of the Page playoff system used across white-ball cricket.
Points are handed out simply: a win is worth 2 points, a no-result gets 1, and a loss gets 0. If teams finish level on points, Net Run Rate (NRR) breaks the tie, and any tied match on the field itself is settled with a Super Over. You can track how all this plays out on the ETPL points table, updated as results come in.
The Star Players to Watch
The talent pool is stacked. Amsterdam Flames bring in Steve Smith, Tim David, Scott Edwards, and recently-signed former India captain Ajinkya Rahane. Rotterdam Dockers count on Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Anrich Nortje, and Jai Moondra. Dublin Guardians are captained by Ravichandran Ashwin. Belfast Wolves have Glenn Maxwell and Paul Stirling in their ranks, Edinburgh’s squad includes Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult, while Glasgow Cosmic are led by George Munsey, with Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj also on board.
Who Owns the Teams?
The ownership side is just as high-profile. Steve Waugh heads the Amsterdam group alongside Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas. Rahul Dravid owns the Dublin franchise. Glenn Maxwell doubles up as both co-owner and player for Belfast. Matthew Hayden serves as co-owner and Head Coach at Glasgow. Rotterdam’s ownership includes Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes, Heinrich Klaasen, and John Abraham. Edinburgh is backed by a New Zealand-based group fronted by former internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum.
How Squads Were Built
Each team’s roster draws from five different player pools: pre-signed overseas stars, affiliated local players, European Associate players, Global Associate players, and players picked up through the ETPL Draft.
Getting Tickets
Ticketing is handled through Tixr, the league’s official ticketing partner, with both single-match tickets and multi-match bundles available depending on the fixture. Fans can access the relevant ticket links through the ETPL match listings, along with the applicable terms and conditions. For a simpler overview of ticket options and pricing tiers, fans can also refer to the dedicated ETPL ticket buying guide.
Ticket Categories
Options range from single-match passes to double-headers and venue or weekend bundles for those planning to catch multiple games. Pricing is split into Adult, Child, and Infant categories, and accessible tickets are sold separately. Since prices differ by match, it’s best to check the specific Tixr listing before buying.
Watching From Home
If you can’t make it to the ground, ETPL matches will be carried by the league’s broadcast and streaming partners internationally. Coverage is split by region: Star Sports and JioHotstar have the rights across the Indian subcontinent, TNT Sports and HBO Max cover the UK and Ireland, and Willow/Cricbuzz carry the tournament across the US, Canada, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. A full region-by-region breakdown is available on the ETPL live streaming guide.
Once matches are underway, ball-by-ball scores and commentary can be followed on the ETPL live score page.
Quick FAQ
How are ETPL players picked — auction or draft? The league uses a structured player draft rather than a bidding auction. The inaugural draft was held on 2 July 2026, letting each franchise build its local core in an organised selection process.
Who is backing the league financially? Beyond the six team owners, the league’s inaugural season is supported by Tixr as ticketing partner, along with Oakvale Capital as investment banker and KPMG in India as strategic advisor.
Where do I follow standings and squad news once the season starts? The ETPL League news and updates page tracks daily match reports, squad changes, and season storylines alongside the live scores and points table linked above.
The Big Picture
This inaugural season is bringing something new to European cricket: six competitive franchises, global superstars, legendary names in ownership and coaching roles, and a genuine platform for players from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Starting with Rotterdam vs Amsterdam on 26 August and closing with the Final at Malahide on 20 September, ETPL 2026 isn’t just another T20 tournament it’s a shot at building a lasting cricket ecosystem in Europe.
