The Hundred 2026: New teams, ownership changes, fixtures, squads and everything you need to know

The 2026 edition of The Hundred is set to begin with a host of changes both on and off the field following a major investment into the competition.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) completed the sale of stakes in all eight teams in 2025, generating more than £500 million which will be reinvested into cricket across England and Wales.

The arrival of new ownership groups has resulted in several team rebrands, updated kits and badge changes, while the player auction has also undergone significant changes ahead of the new season.

Here is everything you need to know about The Hundred 2026.

What has changed in The Hundred 2026?

Since the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, all eight Hundred teams have welcomed new investors, either through partial or full takeovers.

Four of the new ownership groups are linked to Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, bringing further global investment into the competition.

Among the new investors is Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, who has acquired a 49% stake in Trent Rockets.

The investment has also led to several teams changing their names to align with their new ownership groups.

The Northern Superchargers have become Sunrisers Leeds, following their partnership with IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Oval Invincibles have been renamed MI London in line with Mumbai Indians, while Manchester Originals have become Manchester Super Giants following their link-up with Lucknow Super Giants.

All three teams have also introduced new badges and kits as part of their rebrands.

MI London have switched to a blue and gold colour scheme to match Mumbai Indians, while Sunrisers Leeds have moved from purple and white to orange and black.

Manchester Super Giants are yet to confirm their new shirt design but have updated their badge, featuring a red, white and yellow colour scheme with an elephant.

The Southern Brave have kept their name but have changed their colours from green and black to blue and red.

London Spirit have also altered their kit, moving from dark blue to purple and black with red and yellow detailing.

Trent Rockets, Welsh Fire and Birmingham Phoenix are the only teams to have avoided major changes to their branding.

When does The Hundred 2026 start?

The Hundred 2026 begins on Tuesday, 21 July, with the opening fixture taking place in the women’s competition.

The group stage runs until Wednesday, 12 August, with both the men’s and women’s competitions reaching their final round of matches.

The eliminator will then take place on Friday, 14 August.

The teams finishing second and third in the group stage will face each other, with the winner progressing to meet the group winners in the final.

Both competitions will conclude with a double-header final at Lord’s on Sunday, 16 August.

How has the player auction changed?

The new ownership investment brought changes to the Hundred player auction, which took place in March.

Teams were allowed to retain or pre-sign up to four players before the auction in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

England white-ball captain Harry Brook was the biggest men’s retention, remaining with Sunrisers Leeds for £460,000.

Welsh Fire secured the signing of England batter Phil Salt for £450,000, while Jofra Archer stayed with Southern Brave after being picked up for £400,000.

Archer will be joined by England Test wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who moved to Southern Brave for £300,000.

James Coles became the most expensive men’s auction signing after joining London Spirit for £390,000, while Jordan Cox also moved to Welsh Fire for £300,000.

Former England Test captain Joe Root signed for Welsh Fire for £240,000, while Adil Rashid was acquired by Southern Brave for £250,000.

England fast bowlers Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson both joined Manchester Super Giants, with Tongue costing £200,000 and Atkinson £70,000.

Women’s Hundred auction changes

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Lauren Bell were the joint-highest retention signings in the women’s competition, both valued at £140,000.

Sciver-Brunt remains with Trent Rockets, while Bell continues with Southern Brave.

England all-rounder Alice Capsey joined Birmingham Phoenix after being sold for £130,000 during the retention stage.

India batter Smriti Mandhana returned to The Hundred after missing the 2025 season, joining Manchester Super Giants for £90,000.

England spinner Sophie Ecclestone remains with the Super Giants after being retained for £110,000.

The two biggest women’s signings came during the auction, with New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine and Australia wicketkeeper Beth Mooney both joining new teams for £210,000.

Devine signed for Welsh Fire, while Mooney moved to Trent Rockets.

England bowler Issy Wong joined Southern Brave for £130,000, with fellow England spinners Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Sarah Glenn also signing for the franchise for £105,000 and £75,000 respectively.

Former England international Tammy Beaumont, who recently announced her retirement from international cricket, joined Birmingham Phoenix for £70,000.

Who has won The Hundred before?

Men’s competition

2025 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)
2024 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)
2023 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)
2022 – Trent Rockets
2021 – Southern Brave

Women’s competition

2025 – Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers)
2024 – London Spirit
2023 – Southern Brave
2022 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)
2021 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)

The 2026 Hundred promises to be a new era for the competition, with fresh ownership, revamped identities and some of the biggest names in world cricket preparing to compete across England and Wales.