ILT20 Season 5 Schedule Announced as Dubai Gets Opening Match and Final

The DP World International League T20 Season 5 is set to bring another month of high-profile T20 cricket to the UAE, with Dubai selected to host both the opening match and the tournament final.

The fifth edition will get underway on November 21, 2026, when defending champions Desert Vipers face MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium. The tournament will conclude at the same venue on December 20.

Dubai to Host ILT20 Season 5 Opener and Final

The fifth ILT20 season will begin in Dubai on November 21, with Desert Vipers taking on MI Emirates in an evening encounter scheduled for 6:30pm.

Dubai will also stage the tournament's championship match on December 20, with the final scheduled to begin at 6:30pm.

The emirate will host more matches than any other venue during the competition, with 15 fixtures scheduled to take place at Dubai International Stadium.

Three UAE Cities Set for T20 Action

The fifth edition of the ILT20 will be played across three of the UAE's major cricket venues, giving fans in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah plenty of opportunities to watch franchise T20 cricket.

Dubai will host 15 fixtures, while Abu Dhabi will stage 11 matches and Sharjah will welcome eight games during the tournament.

Sharjah and Abu Dhabi Join the Action

Sharjah will host its first match on November 22, when Sharjah Warriorz face Gulf Giants at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in an afternoon encounter.

Later that day, Dubai Capitals will meet Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Dubai.

Abu Dhabi will begin its hosting duties on November 26, when Abu Dhabi Knight Riders take on MI Emirates at Zayed Cricket Stadium.

National Day Double-Header Planned

The ILT20 schedule will also feature a special double-header on December 2 as part of the UAE National Day celebrations.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will face Desert Vipers in an afternoon match in Abu Dhabi, while Dubai Capitals will take on MI Emirates in an evening fixture in Dubai.

The double-header will add another major sporting attraction to the UAE's National Day calendar, with two matches scheduled across the country's leading cricket venues.

Teams to Play 10 League Matches

Each of the six participating teams will play 10 matches during the league stage as they compete for a place in the top four.

The 30-match group phase will determine the teams that advance to the playoffs, setting up a three-match knockout stage across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

The playoff results will ultimately decide the two teams that compete for the ILT20 trophy in the final in Dubai.

ILT20 Season 5 Playoff Schedule

The playoff stage will begin with Qualifier 1 in Abu Dhabi on December 16. The match will feature the teams finishing first and second in the league standings, with the winner securing a place in the final.

The Eliminator will follow in Dubai on December 17, with the third- and fourth-placed teams competing to keep their title hopes alive.

Sharjah will then host Qualifier 2 on December 18, giving another team the opportunity to reach the championship match.

Final Returns to Dubai on December 20

The ILT20 Season 5 final will be played at Dubai International Stadium on December 20, with the match scheduled to begin at 6:30pm.

The winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 will meet in the tournament decider, with the trophy set to be contested in what is expected to be the biggest match of the season.

With Dubai hosting both the opening fixture and the final, the emirate will once again have a central role in the UAE's T20 cricket calendar.

Defending Champions Begin Their Title Defence

Desert Vipers will enter the fifth season as defending champions and will begin their title defence against MI Emirates in the tournament opener.

The opening clash will bring together two established T20 franchises and provide an early test for both teams as they begin their campaigns.

The fifth ILT20 season will feature six franchises and a strong line-up of international cricket talent, with matches taking place throughout Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

For cricket fans across the UAE, the month-long tournament will offer numerous opportunities to watch top-level franchise T20 action before the competition reaches its climax in Dubai on December 20.