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champions-trophy-2026

ICC Champions Trophy 2026 — Pakistan host, JioHotstar & PTV broadcast guide

Eight teams, fifty-over format, and the first ICC senior event held in Pakistan since 1996 — though India's matches may be played at a neutral venue under the PCB–BCCI hybrid model.

The ICC Champions Trophy returns in February 2026 with Pakistan as the host nation — the first ICC senior men’s event held in Pakistan since 1996. Eight teams play a fifteen-match round-robin into semi-finals and a final, in the fifty-over format. India’s matches are expected to be played at a neutral venue under the same hybrid model used for the 2025 Champions Trophy, pending the ICC’s final scheduling decision.

Star Sports and JioHotstar share the India broadcast; PTV Sports and Tapmad TV cover Pakistan; Sky Sports Cricket holds UK; Fox Cricket and Kayo hold Australia.

Where to watch in India legally

Television — Star Sports network. Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi and the regional-language feeds carry every Champions Trophy match.

Streaming — JioHotstar. Mobile ad-tier free for Jio subscribers; Premium ₹299/month or ₹999/year covers the full tournament across tablet, web and TV.

Free legal coverage — DD Sports for India matches. Under the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act, Doordarshan is expected to carry India’s matches and the semi-finals + final on a free clean feed. Terrestrial TV and DD Free Dish.

Pan-region availability

MarketTelevisionStreaming
IndiaStar Sports + DD Sports (India matches)JioHotstar
PakistanPTV SportsTapmad TV / Tamasha
United KingdomSky Sports CricketSky Go / Now TV Sports
AustraliaFox CricketKayo Sports
United StatesWillow TVWillow by Cricbuzz
South AfricaSuperSportSuperSport app

Series schedule

Pavilion Press · Cricket fixtures 2026

Cricket schedule — legal broadcasters by country

Pan-region rights split. Times and channels confirmed against official broadcaster releases; tour windows may shift — check the rights-holder app for kick-off the day of play.

SeriesFormatWindowTeamsIndia (legal)Pakistan (legal)UK (legal)
ICC Champions Trophy 2026ODIFeb 20268 nations (TBC host: Pakistan)Star Sports / JioHotstarPTV Sports / Tapmad TVSky Sports Cricket
IPL 2026T20 leagueMar–May 202610 franchisesStar Sports + JioHotstarNot licensed (PEMRA blackout)Sky Sports Cricket
PSL 2026T20 leagueApr–May 20266 franchisesSony Sports (subject to confirmation)PTV Sports / Tapmad TV / A SportsSky Sports / Willow TV
Indian Premier League final & playoffsT20 knockoutMay 2026Top-4 IPLStar Sports + JioHotstarNot licensedSky Sports Cricket
England tour of IndiaTests + ODIs + T20IsJan–Feb 2026India vs EnglandStar Sports + JioHotstarPTV / Ten SportsSky Sports Cricket / TNT Sports
Australia vs India ODI seriesODIOct–Nov 2026 (tentative)India vs AustraliaSony Sports / JioHotstarTen SportsSky Sports Cricket
ICC T20 World Cup 2026T20 World CupFeb–Mar 2026 (India + Sri Lanka hosts)20 nationsStar Sports + JioHotstar + DD Sports (selected)PTV / A SportsSky Sports Cricket
BBL 2025/26 finalsT20 league knockoutFeb 2026Top-5 BBLSony SportsSony Sports (selected)BT Sport / TNT Sports
The Hundred 2026100-ball leagueAug 20268 franchisesSony Sports (TBC)TBCSky Sports + BBC (selected)
CPL 2026T20 leagueAug–Sep 20266 franchisesFanCode / Star SportsTapmad TVSky Sports / FanCode
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026T20 World Cup (Women)Jun 2026 (England host)10 nationsStar Sports / JioHotstarPTVSky Sports + BBC
Asia Cup 2026T20 / ODI (TBC)Sep 20266 nationsStar Sports / JioHotstarPTV / A SportsSky Sports
WTC 2025–27 cycle: India testsTestThrough Jun 2027India + opponentsStar Sports + JioHotstarTen SportsSky Sports Cricket
Sri Lanka tour of AustraliaODI + T20IFeb 2026Sri Lanka vs AustraliaFanCodeTapmad TVSky Sports (selected)
Pakistan vs Bangladesh ODI seriesODIApr 2026Pakistan vs BangladeshTen SportsPTV Sports / A SportsSky Sports (selected)

Smartcric Guide is editorial only — we do not host, embed or link to unauthorised streams. Match access is via the licensed broadcaster apps listed above.

How to watch legally

  1. In India, DD Sports is the cheapest legal route for India’s matches and the knockouts. For non-India group matches, you need JioHotstar Premium or a Star Sports DTH pack.
  2. In Pakistan, PTV Sports is free on terrestrial TV. Tapmad TV’s app subscription adds streaming convenience on mobile and smart TV.
  3. In the UK, Sky Sports Cricket via a Sky contract or Now TV Sports day-pass. The Champions Trophy is a compact two-and-a-half-week tournament, so a single month of Sky Sports usually covers it end to end.
  4. In Australia, Fox Cricket via Kayo Sports monthly. The tournament’s afternoon-Pakistan-time start aligns with Australian evenings for live viewing.

Smartcric Guide does not stream the Champions Trophy. Copyright complaints: [email protected].

Frequently asked questions

Will India play the Champions Trophy 2026 in Pakistan?
Likely under a hybrid model. The Pakistan Cricket Board is the host, but the BCCI has not cleared Indian players to travel to Pakistan since 2008. The ICC’s expected resolution mirrors the 2025 Champions Trophy fix: India’s matches are played at a neutral venue (Sri Lanka or the UAE) while Pakistan hosts the rest. Final venue split is confirmed by the ICC closer to the tournament.
How can I watch the Champions Trophy 2026 free?
In India: Doordarshan is expected to carry India men’s matches under the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act — free on DD Sports terrestrial TV and DD Free Dish. In Pakistan: PTV Sports is the public broadcaster and carries the matches free-to-air on terrestrial television. In the UK and Australia, there is no free-to-air mandate — Sky Sports Cricket (UK) and Fox Cricket (Australia) are the pay routes.
Where is the Champions Trophy 2026 final?
Venue TBC. The PCB has flagged Lahore or Karachi as the preferred final venue, but if India reaches the final under a hybrid model, the final is moved to a neutral location — most likely Colombo or Dubai. The ICC’s Future Tours Programme will publish the confirmed schedule and venues closer to the tournament window.