English cricket’s most experimental format returns for a sixth season with new team names, new owners and a genuinely different look — even if the 100-ball format itself remains unchanged.
## Key Dates and Format
The Hundred 2026 runs from July 21 to August 16, with men’s and women’s competitions played simultaneously across eight city-based franchises. Each team plays four home and four away group matches, including one against every other side plus a bonus fixture against their nearest regional rival, before the top three advance to the knockouts.
The second- and third-placed teams meet in an Eliminator at the Kia Oval on August 14, with the winner advancing to face the league leaders in the final at Lord’s on August 16.
## New Names, New Money
For the first time since the competition launched, three of the eight franchises carry new identities after the ECB sold equity stakes to private investors, including several IPL franchise owners. The 2025 champions Oval Invincibles are now MI London, the Northern Superchargers have become Sunrisers Leeds, and Manchester Originals are now Manchester Super Giants. The sale raised more than £500 million, to be shared between cricket’s 18 counties, with at least £50 million earmarked for grassroots investment.
## What Changed Behind the Scenes
2026 also introduced a player auction for the first time, replacing the previous draft system, held over two days in March at Piccadilly Lights in London. Each team could retain up to four players before bidding began.
## Defending Champions
Oval Invincibles (now MI London) won a third consecutive men’s title in 2025, while the Northern Superchargers (now Sunrisers Leeds) won their first women’s title. Both franchises open the new season against each other in the opening fixture at the Kia Oval.
## Why the Ownership Shake-Up Matters
The Hundred’s private investment model is already influencing other leagues — Cricket Victoria referenced it directly when outlining plans to sell a second [Big Bash League](/big-bash-league-fixtures) licence in Melbourne. As more competitions chase international capital and star power, The Hundred’s 2026 restructuring may prove to be a template rather than an outlier.
## A Tight Turnaround
England’s men have almost no breathing room after the tournament: a three-Test series against Pakistan begins at Headingley on August 19, just two and a half days after The Hundred final. For the full picture of England’s packed summer, see our guide to [England Cricket Fixtures](/england-cricket-fixtures).