T20 World Cup Trophy Tour 2026: Schedule & Cities List

Article Highlights

• The T20 World Cup 2026 Trophy Tour kicked off with a paramotor launch over Adam’s Bridge (Ram Setu), and yes, it’s as cinematic as it sounds.

• If you’re in the Gulf, Bahrain’s 9–11 Jan fan schedule is one of the clearest, most fan-friendly stopovers we’ve seen so far (malls, schools, even a boat parade).

• The tour isn’t just vibes: it’s shadowing live cricket too. The trophy was displayed at India vs New Zealand 1st ODI in Vadodara (Jan 11) while ticketing chaos melted the internet days later.

T20 World Cup 2026 Trophy Tour: Schedule, dates & Cities List

Two million fans crashing a ticket site, a trophy flying over Ram Setu, and cricket boards trying to turn “photo op” into pilgrimage. That’s the T20 World Cup 2026 Trophy Tour in a sentence.

If you searched this, you want one thing: where is the trophy going, and how can I see it without wasting half my day in a queue. So let’s get straight to it.

The Ram Setu launch wasn’t subtle (and that’s the point)

The ICC launched the tour with a paramotor flight above Adam’s Bridge/Ram Setu, the natural chain of shoals linking India and Sri Lanka.
It’s marketing, obviously. But it’s smart marketing.

Because this tournament is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the ICC wants the build-up to feel like one connected festival rather than two separate events with a shared logo. Ram Setu is basically a big flashing metaphor. You don’t have to love it to get why they did it.

Also, it set the tone: this tour is built for visuals. Not just stadium handovers and polite handshakes.

Why DP World is everywhere on this tour

The ICC’s trophy tour is being run “with DP World” as the presenting partner, which tracks because DP World’s entire brand is logistics, movement, shipping things from A to B and making it look smooth.
That matters because the tour route is ambitious: multiple countries, multiple activations, and a calendar that’s tight enough to make an organiser sweat through their shirt.

And yes, it’s also the ICC doing what it always does: selling the idea that cricket is global and growing. This tour is the proof-by-photo campaign.

Trophy Tour schedule 2026: what’s confirmed (and what’s “watch this space”)

Here’s the cleanest “fan-first” snapshot using stops that have been published with real detail by local organisers/credible reporting.

Confirmed, fan-usable stops (with locations)

Countries the ICC says the trophy is visiting

The ICC’s own route list includes Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Cambodia, Nepal and Mongolia, before the tournament begins.

Some of those legs get published with full micro-schedules (Bahrain nailed it). Some get announced in bursts on official channels. That’s the reality.

Qatar and Oman: what we know about the tour vibe there

The Qatar and Oman legs leaned heavily into “trophy meets landmark” energy. Reporting around the early stops highlighted the trophy being taken to major local locations rather than just cricket grounds.

That’s a pattern you should expect elsewhere too:

• Landmark photos for reach

• Mall/fan park engagement for volume

• A stadium appearance when it aligns with live cricket or a board wants the big crowd shot

If you’re in those regions and waiting for exact fan meet locations, the best move is to watch the official tour channels and the host board socials because that’s where the detailed timings tend to land first (Bahrain is the model).

Bahrain’s schedule is the gold standard (seriously)

Most trophy tour coverage is “it will visit X, Y, Z” and then leaves you stranded.

Bahrain actually published a full programme. It’s three straight days of accessible stops:

• Jan 9: Water Garden City fan engagement + The Avenues Mall into the night

• Jan 10: Awali Cricket Ground + Dana Mall + Al Najma Club

• Jan 11: Tree of Life + Grand Mosque + multiple school visits

This is what fans want. Clear timings. Clear venues. Less guessing.

Nepal’s Kathmandu stop: the smartest piece of “emotional marketing” on the route

Nepal didn’t just show the trophy. They used it.

The trophy appeared in Kathmandu at Bouddhanath Stupa and Sheetal Niwas on January 7, tying the moment to national pride and the build-up to their World Cup campaign.
That’s how you turn a travelling object into a memory.

And honestly, for Associate nations, these moments matter. It’s not just PR fluff. It’s visibility, sponsorship oxygen, kids showing up at practice the next week because the World Cup suddenly feels real.

India stops: how to catch the trophy without guessing

The trophy being displayed at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium on January 11 (IND vs NZ 1st ODI) is your biggest clue about how India activations are being handled: attach it to live cricket when possible.

If you’re attending games and hoping to see it:

• Look for partner activation zones (usually on the main concourse, near entry plazas, or fan parks outside the gates).

• Go early. These things attract queues fast.

• Don’t assume it’ll be “inside the bowl” during the match. Often it’s a pre-match window, then it disappears backstage for security.

Ticket wars: the tour is fun, the ticketing is not

Here’s the ugly bit: ticket demand is so high that sales phases have literally crashed online platforms, including BookMyShow during a release window in January 2026.

Fan advice, from someone who’s watched this movie before:

• Don’t refresh like a maniac on one device. Use a second device on a different connection if you can.

• If the headline games are gone (India vs Pakistan, final), watch for late hospitality releases and official extra drops. They happen.

• Protect your money: only buy through official partners. Scam season loves World Cups.

The “ghost venue” twist fans keep asking about

The ICC schedule release includes the big Ahmedabad final, but it also builds in contingency planning connected to Pakistan’s participation in the tournament’s later stages.

That uncertainty is why travelling fans are nervous. If you’re planning a final trip, you’re basically betting on a bracket you can’t control. Book flexible where you can, or accept you’re gambling.

Mongolia and the “why are we even going there?” question

The ICC has Mongolia on the route list.
No, Mongolia isn’t a traditional cricket market. That’s the point.

These trophy tours aren’t only for current fans. They’re recruitment drives. Plant a flag, get a headline, build a federation’s legitimacy, and maybe in ten years you’ve got a real pathway system. It’s long-term thinking dressed up as a shiny roadshow.

The real trick for fans: follow the trail like a beat reporter

If you want the trophy, treat it like breaking team news.

• Track it through host board announcements (Bahrain did it properly).

• Watch for it “shadowing” live series (Vadodara proves it can happen).

• Assume the most popular stops will be the least comfortable unless organisers publish timings and crowd control plans.

That’s not cynicism. That’s experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is trophy viewing included with my match ticket?

Sometimes yes (when it’s displayed at the stadium like Vadodara), sometimes it’s a separate fan-zone event. If your board hasn’t published details, assume you’ll need to arrive early and find the activation area.

Where was the Trophy Tour Adam’s Bridge launch?

It launched over Adam’s Bridge/Ram Setu, the chain of shoals between India and Sri Lanka, using a paramotor for the reveal.

What’s the Bahrain schedule in plain English?

Three days (Jan 9–11) across Water Garden City, The Avenues Mall, Dana Mall, heritage sites, and school visits, with a published timetable.

Was the trophy actually at India vs New Zealand in Vadodara?

Yes. It was displayed at the BCA Stadium during the 1st ODI on January 11.

Why are Qatar and Oman part of the tour?

They’re key regional hubs with strong South Asian fan bases. The tour has used landmark-style activations there to maximise visibility beyond just cricket grounds.

Why did BookMyShow crash during ticket sales?

Demand. Simple as that. Reports around the January sales window showed the platform buckling under traffic for high-profile games.

One last thought

The ICC will sell this tour as “unity” and “heritage”. Fans will judge it on one metric: did I get a clean photo and a good story without losing my whole day?

If organisers copy Bahrain’s clarity, it’ll be a win. If they don’t, it’ll still look great on Instagram… from the VIP lane.