Table of Contents
Europe gets its own big franchise T20 league this August, with the ETPL 2026 Schedule running from 26 August to 20 September. The European T20 Premier League, or ETPL, brings together six city based teams from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, with a mix of international stars and the best local talent from all three countries.
ETPL 2026 Schedule Overview
Six teams, a double round robin format, meaning every team plays every other team twice, 30 matches in total before the playoffs. The top team after the league stage goes straight to the final. The second and third placed teams meet in a Qualifier for the other final spot. Matches that finish level go to a super over.
The league started life differently to most franchise competitions. Instead of an auction, ETPL ran a player draft on 2 July 2026, with 270 eligible cricketers from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands available. Teams made 36 picks across six rounds to build the local core of their squads, on top of the international stars and captains already signed separately.
ETPL 2026 Teams and Captains
Amsterdam Flames: Based in the Netherlands, captained by Australia’s Mitchell Marsh. Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has an ownership stake in the franchise.
Belfast Wolves: Captained by Glenn Maxwell. The squad includes Paul Stirling, Mark Adair and Lorcan Tector.
Dublin Guardians: Captained by Ravichandran Ashwin, who left Indian domestic cricket earlier this year to play in overseas franchise leagues. The squad includes New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, Ireland stars George Dockrell and Harry Tector, and Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai.
Edinburgh Castle Rockers: Captained by New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, with James Foster as head coach. The squad includes Trent Boult, Pakistan’s Shadab Khan, and South Africa’s Andries Gous behind the stumps. Former New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum hold ownership stakes in the franchise.
Glasgow Cosmic: Based in Scotland, with former Australia opener Matthew Hayden involved in the franchise.
Rotterdam Dockers: Based in the Netherlands, with former South Africa fielder Jonty Rhodes as co-owner.
Star Players to Watch
Beyond the captains, the league has attracted some serious international names, including Steve Smith, Faf du Plessis, Tim David, Heinrich Klaasen and Lungi Ngidi. The competition also leans heavily on the strongest players from the three host nations, with names like Paul Stirling, Scott Edwards, Josh Little, George Dockrell, Aryan Dutt, Max O’Dowd, Richie Berrington and Matthew Cross all involved.
ETPL 2026 Full Schedule
| # | Date & Time | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wed 26 Aug 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Rotterdam Dockers vs Amsterdam Flames | Voorburg |
| 2 | Thu 27 Aug 11:30 local · 15:00 IST | Belfast Wolves vs Dublin Guardians | Voorburg |
| 3 | Thu 27 Aug 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Glasgow Cosmic | Voorburg |
| 4 | Fri 28 Aug 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Amsterdam Flames vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Voorburg |
| 5 | Sat 29 Aug 11:30 local · 15:00 IST | Glasgow Cosmic vs Dublin Guardians | Voorburg |
| 6 | Sat 29 Aug 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Rotterdam Dockers vs Belfast Wolves | Voorburg |
| 7 | Sun 30 Aug 11:30 local · 15:00 IST | Amsterdam Flames vs Belfast Wolves | Voorburg |
| 8 | Sun 30 Aug 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Dublin Guardians | Voorburg |
| Mon 31 Aug — Rest day | |||
| 9 | Tue 1 Sept 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Glasgow Cosmic vs Rotterdam Dockers | Voorburg |
| 10 | Wed 2 Sept 11:30 local · 15:00 IST | Dublin Guardians vs Rotterdam Dockers | Voorburg |
| 11 | Wed 2 Sept 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Belfast Wolves vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Voorburg |
| 12 | Thu 3 Sept 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Amsterdam Flames vs Glasgow Cosmic | Voorburg |
| 13 | Fri 4 Sept 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Glasgow Cosmic vs Belfast Wolves | Voorburg |
| 14 | Sat 5 Sept 11:30 local · 15:00 IST | Rotterdam Dockers vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Voorburg |
| 15 | Sat 5 Sept 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Dublin Guardians vs Amsterdam Flames | Voorburg |
| 16 | Sun 6 Sept 11:30 local · 15:00 IST | Glasgow Cosmic vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Voorburg |
| 17 | Sun 6 Sept 15:15 local · 18:45 IST | Amsterdam Flames vs Rotterdam Dockers | Voorburg |
| Mon 7 Sept — Travel day | |||
| Tue 8 Sept — Travel day | |||
| 18 | Wed 9 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Dublin Guardians vs Belfast Wolves | Malahide |
| 19 | Thu 10 Sept 10:30 local · 15:00 IST | Rotterdam Dockers vs Glasgow Cosmic | Malahide |
| 20 | Thu 10 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Belfast Wolves vs Amsterdam Flames | Malahide |
| 21 | Fri 11 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Dublin Guardians vs Edinburgh Castle Rockers | Malahide |
| 22 | Sat 12 Sept 10:30 local · 15:00 IST | Belfast Wolves vs Rotterdam Dockers | Malahide |
| 23 | Sat 12 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Dublin Guardians vs Glasgow Cosmic | Malahide |
| 24 | Sun 13 Sept 10:30 local · 15:00 IST | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Amsterdam Flames | Malahide |
| 25 | Sun 13 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Belfast Wolves vs Glasgow Cosmic | Malahide |
| Mon 14 Sept — Rest day | |||
| 26 | Tue 15 Sept 10:30 local · 15:00 IST | Amsterdam Flames vs Dublin Guardians | Malahide |
| 27 | Tue 15 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Rotterdam Dockers | Malahide |
| 28 | Wed 16 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Glasgow Cosmic vs Amsterdam Flames | Malahide |
| 29 | Thu 17 Sept 10:30 local · 15:00 IST | Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Belfast Wolves | Malahide |
| 30 | Thu 17 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Rotterdam Dockers vs Dublin Guardians | Malahide |
| Fri 18 Sept — Rest day | |||
| 31 | Sat 19 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Qualifier | Malahide |
| 32 | Sun 20 Sept 14:15 local · 18:45 IST | Final | Malahide |
All times below are local (Netherlands/Ireland) and IST.
The league stage runs entirely at Voorburg (Netherlands) for the first 17 matches, then shifts to Malahide (Dublin) after two travel days, with matches 18 through 30 completing the league phase before the Qualifier and final.
Why ETPL 2026 is Important
ETPL is a real attempt to build a top level T20 competition in Europe outside England, using the strength of Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association together rather than each running something small on their own. For fans in India, it’s another chance to watch familiar international stars in a new setting, and a good source of value picks for fantasy contests given how fresh the player pool is.
Also Read- ETPL 2026 Player Draft: Full Squads, Salaries and Every Pick Explained
ETPL 2026 Schedule FAQs
Q. When does ETPL 2026 start and end?
A. The tournament runs from 26 August to 20 September 2026.
Q. How many teams are in ETPL 2026?
A. Six: Amsterdam Flames, Belfast Wolves, Dublin Guardians, Edinburgh Castle Rockers, Glasgow Cosmic and Rotterdam Dockers.
Q. Who is the Dublin Guardians captain?
A. Ravichandran Ashwin, who left Indian domestic cricket earlier in 2026 to focus on overseas franchise leagues, including a stint in Major League Cricket before this.
Q. What is the format of ETPL 2026?
A. A double round robin league stage, where every team plays every other team twice, followed by a Qualifier and a final. The top team after the league stage goes straight to the final.
Q. Where are ETPL 2026 matches being played?
A. The first 17 matches, running from 26 August to 6 September, are all at Voorburg in the Netherlands. After two travel days, the tournament shifts to Malahide in Dublin for the remaining league matches, the Qualifier and the final.
Q. When is the ETPL 2026 final?
A. Sunday, 20 September 2026, at Malahide in Dublin, kicking off at 14:15 local time (18:45 IST). The Qualifier is the day before, on 19 September, also in Malahide.
Q. How were the ETPL 2026 squads built?
A. Through a player draft held on 2 July 2026, rather than an auction. Teams picked from a pool of 270 eligible players from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands to build their local core, alongside separately signed international marquee players and captains.