The European T20 Premier League 2026: Teams, Stars, Format and Full Guide
Published on August 27, 2026
Summary Overview: The inaugural European T20 Premier League brings Steve Smith, Ashwin, du Plessis and more to the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland. Full guide to the ETPL teams, format, venues and fixtures.
The European T20 Premier League 2026: Teams, Stars, Format and Full Guide
By Cricket Daily
European cricket has a bold new flagship. The inaugural European T20 Premier League, or ETPL, is finally here, bringing star-studded franchise cricket to the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland from 26 August to 20 September. After years of false starts, this is a genuine landmark for the game in these countries, and it has arrived with a serious cast of international talent. Here is everything you need to know.
What is the ETPL?
The European T20 Premier League is a brand-new professional Twenty20 competition, jointly organised by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and Netherlands Cricket, and sanctioned by the ICC. It is the region's most ambitious attempt yet to build a top-tier T20 league, and its launch has been a long time coming, arriving years after the collapse of the proposed Euro T20 Slam back in 2019 and a delay from its own planned 2025 start.
For newcomers, T20 is the fast, three-hour format of the game, and franchise leagues like this one mix overseas stars with a strong core of local players. The ETPL aims to raise standards and grow the sport across these non-traditional cricketing nations, and it has certainly started with a bang.
The six teams
Six city-based franchises are competing, two from each of the three host nations:
- Netherlands: Amsterdam Flames and Rotterdam Dockers
- Ireland: Dublin Guardians and Belfast Wolves
- Scotland: Edinburgh Castle Rockers and Glasgow Cosmic
Each squad blends home-grown talent with overseas signings. Teams must include at least eight local players in their squad and field a minimum of five in every eleven, so the league is designed to develop European players, not just import stars.
Serious star power
For a first season, the line-up is remarkable. The Amsterdam Flames arguably boast the biggest names, with Australia's Mitchell Marsh captaining a side that also features Steve Smith, Tim David and former India captain Ajinkya Rahane, with cricket legend Steve Waugh part of the ownership group. The Rotterdam Dockers counter with a powerful group including Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen and Anrich Nortje.
Elsewhere, spin great Ravichandran Ashwin captains the Dublin Guardians, and the wider tournament features a who's who of the T20 circuit, with names like Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Liam Livingstone, David Miller and Ireland's own Paul Stirling all involved. That is a lot of firepower for a debut season, and it gives the ETPL instant credibility.
The format explained
The competition uses a double round-robin followed by playoffs. In the league stage, each of the six teams plays every other team twice, creating 30 matches. The playoff system then borrows a neat idea from The Hundred: the team that finishes top of the table goes straight through to the final, while the sides finishing second and third meet in a Qualifier, with the winner earning the other place in the final. In total, the tournament runs to 32 matches.
Two countries, two legs
The season has a distinct geographical split. The opening leg, covering the first 17 matches, is staged at the Voorburg Cricket Club near The Hague in the Netherlands, from 26 August to early September. The tournament then moves to Ireland, with The Village at Malahide in Dublin hosting the remaining league games plus the Qualifier on 19 September and the final on 20 September.
Start times where you are
Match days feature two sessions, and the timings are consistent throughout. Note that the Netherlands leg runs one hour ahead of the Ireland leg, so the local times shift slightly when the tournament moves to Dublin.
- Afternoon session: 11:30 AM local in the Netherlands (10:30 AM in Ireland), which is 3:00 PM IST and 5:30 AM ET.
- Evening session: 3:15 PM local in the Netherlands (2:15 PM in Ireland), which is 6:45 PM IST and 9:15 AM ET.
Full schedule
The season is split into two legs. All times below are shown as local, then IST, then ET. Remember that Ireland runs one hour behind the Netherlands, so the local start times change when the action moves to Dublin.
Voorburg leg, Netherlands (matches 1 to 17)
| Date | Match | Local Time | IST | ET |
| Wed 26 Aug | Amsterdam Flames v Rotterdam Dockers | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Thu 27 Aug | Belfast Wolves v Dublin Guardians | 11:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Thu 27 Aug | Edinburgh Castle Rockers v Glasgow Cosmic | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Fri 28 Aug | Amsterdam Flames v Edinburgh Castle Rockers | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Sat 29 Aug | Glasgow Cosmic v Dublin Guardians | 11:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Sat 29 Aug | Rotterdam Dockers v Belfast Wolves | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Sun 30 Aug | Amsterdam Flames v Belfast Wolves | 11:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Sun 30 Aug | Edinburgh Castle Rockers v Dublin Guardians | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Tue 1 Sep | Glasgow Cosmic v Rotterdam Dockers | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Wed 2 Sep | Dublin Guardians v Rotterdam Dockers | 11:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Wed 2 Sep | Belfast Wolves v Edinburgh Castle Rockers | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Thu 3 Sep | Amsterdam Flames v Glasgow Cosmic | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Fri 4 Sep | Glasgow Cosmic v Belfast Wolves | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Sat 5 Sep | Rotterdam Dockers v Edinburgh Castle Rockers | 11:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Sat 5 Sep | Dublin Guardians v Amsterdam Flames | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Sun 6 Sep | Glasgow Cosmic v Edinburgh Castle Rockers | 11:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Sun 6 Sep | Amsterdam Flames v Rotterdam Dockers | 3:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
Local times are Netherlands time. The opening match on 26 August was won by the Rotterdam Dockers, who beat the Amsterdam Flames by five wickets.
Dublin leg, Ireland (matches 18 to 32)
| Date | Match | Local Time | IST | ET |
| Wed 9 Sep | Dublin Guardians v Belfast Wolves | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Thu 10 Sep | Rotterdam Dockers v Glasgow Cosmic | 10:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Thu 10 Sep | Belfast Wolves v Amsterdam Flames | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Fri 11 Sep | Dublin Guardians v Edinburgh Castle Rockers | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Sat 12 Sep | Belfast Wolves v Rotterdam Dockers | 10:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Sat 12 Sep | Dublin Guardians v Glasgow Cosmic | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Sun 13 Sep | Edinburgh Castle Rockers v Amsterdam Flames | 10:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Sun 13 Sep | Belfast Wolves v Glasgow Cosmic | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Tue 15 Sep | Amsterdam Flames v Dublin Guardians | 10:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Tue 15 Sep | Edinburgh Castle Rockers v Rotterdam Dockers | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Wed 16 Sep | Glasgow Cosmic v Amsterdam Flames | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Thu 17 Sep | Edinburgh Castle Rockers v Belfast Wolves | 10:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 5:30 AM |
| Thu 17 Sep | Rotterdam Dockers v Dublin Guardians | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Sat 19 Sep | Qualifier (2nd v 3rd) | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
| Sun 20 Sep | Final | 2:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 9:15 AM |
Local times are Irish time. The Qualifier and Final line-ups will be confirmed once the league stage is complete.
⬇️ Download Free PDF European T20 Premier League 2026 Schedule
Where to watch
The ETPL is being broadcast across several markets, with FanCode the home of the league in India and coverage available in other regions too. As with any new competition, it is worth checking your local listings, and Cricket Daily will carry results and updates throughout.
Why it matters
Make no mistake, this is a significant moment. A well-funded, ICC-sanctioned league with this level of talent represents a real push to grow cricket in Europe and give players from the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland regular exposure to world-class opposition. It will not rival The Hundred or the IPL overnight, but if the ETPL succeeds, it could become an important fixture on the calendar and a genuine boost for the sport in these nations.
The action is already underway, with the Rotterdam Dockers beating the Amsterdam Flames by five wickets in the opening match. Buckle up, because European cricket just got a lot more interesting.
Keep it locked to Cricket Daily for results, standings, and full coverage of the European T20 Premier League.
Frequently asked questions
When is the European T20 Premier League 2026?
From 26 August to 20 September, with the final at The Village in Malahide, Dublin.
Which teams are playing?
Six franchises: Amsterdam Flames, Rotterdam Dockers, Dublin Guardians, Belfast Wolves, Edinburgh Castle Rockers and Glasgow Cosmic.
Which big names are involved?
Stars including Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen and Glenn Maxwell.
What is the format?
A double round-robin of 30 league matches, then a Qualifier between the second and third-placed teams, with the table-topper waiting in the final. That is 32 matches in all.
Where is it played?
The first 17 matches are at Voorburg in the Netherlands, and the remaining games, including the playoffs and final, are at Malahide in Dublin.
📋 European T20 Premier League 2026 Complete Guide
📋 European T20 Premier League 2026 Matches