ILT20 Season 5 Full Schedule 2026: All 34 Fixtures, Dates and Venues

The countdown to ILT20 Season 5 is officially on. The league has released the full schedule for the 2026 edition, and cricket fans in the UAE are in for a month of high voltage T20 action. Thirty-four matches will be played across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah from November 21 to December 20, 2026.

The tournament opens with a blockbuster. Defending champions Desert Vipers take on MI Emirates, the Season 2 champions, in a repeat of the final of last season at the Dubai International Stadium. With squads locked in and tickets already on sale, Season 5 is shaping up to be the biggest edition of the ILT20 so far. The league keeps getting bigger every year, and Season 5 brings the same mix of global stars and UAE talent that made the earlier editions such a hit.

Season 5 at a Glance

The ILT20 announced the complete fixture list on October 8, 2026. Six teams will fight for the trophy in a double round robin league stage, with each team playing 10 matches. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will move into the playoffs, which means every single game carries real weight in the race for the knockout rounds.

Dubai is the main hub of the tournament with 15 matches, including the opener and the final at the Dubai International Stadium. The Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi will host 11 matches, and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium will host 8. Evening matches start at 6:30 pm local time, while the first match of a double header day starts at 2:00 pm. For fans watching from India, the evening games begin at 8:00 pm IST and the afternoon games at 3:30 pm IST.

Six double header days are packed into the 30-day tournament, so supporters will get plenty of weekend and prime time cricket. The league has even lined up a special double header on December 2 to mark UAE National Day, with two big games on the same day. It is a schedule built to keep the momentum high from the first ball to the last.

If you are planning to watch from the stands, the ILT20 Season 5 tickets guide has all the sale dates and price details. The Season 5 squads overview breaks down the star players to watch for every team, so you can plan your trip around the biggest names in the tournament. Season 5 also lands in a busy window for UAE cricket, with the Abu Dhabi T10 running through November, so fans in the Emirates are truly spoiled for choice this winter.

League Stage: The Full 30-Match Fixture List

The league stage runs from November 21 to December 14 and delivers 30 matches in just 24 days. The opening weekend sets the tone with a Super Sunday double header on November 22. Sharjah Warriorz face Gulf Giants in Sharjah at 2:00 pm, and Dubai Capitals take on Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Dubai at 6:30 pm. The first week also gives every team an early look at the conditions across all three venues before the race for the playoffs heats up.

The middle phase of the tournament has some mouth watering contests lined up. Desert Vipers and MI Emirates meet again on November 28 in Abu Dhabi, and the UAE National Day double header on December 2 brings Abu Dhabi Knight Riders against Desert Vipers and Dubai Capitals against MI Emirates. December 6 is another double header day, with MI Emirates facing Sharjah Warriorz in Abu Dhabi before Desert Vipers meet Dubai Capitals in Dubai.

Desert Vipers will start the season as the team to beat after lifting the trophy last season. MI Emirates will be hungry for revenge after losing the final of last season, and the two clashes between these sides could decide who finishes on top of the table. Pakistan star Hassan Nawaz has rejoined the Desert Vipers camp for the new season, which adds even more firepower to the champion squad.

Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriorz all have the firepower to reach the playoffs. In a short tournament, one bad week can end a campaign, so every match matters from the first weekend. The six squads are packed with international stars, and the full team lists are covered in the Season 5 squads overview linked above. Live scores and ball by ball updates will be available on ESPNcricinfo once the action begins on November 21.

Playoffs and the Final

The playoff format rewards the best teams of the league stage and keeps the drama alive till the very end. Qualifier 1 on December 16 in Abu Dhabi brings together the top two seeds, and the winner walks straight into the final without playing another knockout game. It is the prize every team chases through the long league stage. Both sides will bring their best game, because the direct route to the final also means extra rest before the big night in Dubai.

The Eliminator on December 17 in Dubai is pure knockout cricket for the third and fourth seeds, with no second chances for the loser. The winner of the Eliminator stays alive and moves one step closer to the title match. These sudden death games often produce the most thrilling cricket of the whole tournament.

Qualifier 2 on December 18 in Sharjah gives the loser of Qualifier 1 one final shot at the title match. They will face the winner of the Eliminator, and the winner of that contest takes the second spot in the final. The grand finale is set for December 20 at the Dubai International Stadium, where the Season 5 champions will lift the trophy in front of a packed house.

With 34 matches across three world class venues, Season 5 promises a full month of entertainment for cricket lovers. Keep an eye on the upcoming fixtures page for the latest match listings, and grab your seats early through the tickets guide linked above. The race for the ILT20 crown starts on November 21, and it starts with a final rematch. Circle December 20 on the calendar, because the final in Dubai is the night every team in the league is playing for.

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