MLC 2026 | USA T20 franchise league’s fourth instalment scheduled to start in June next year

‌The fourth instalment of the Major League Cricket, the United States of America’s premier T20 franchise tournament, is set to start on June 18 next year. MLC 2026 is expected to run till July 18, with a total of 34 matches, including the qualifiers and the final, to be played.  

The six franchises that took part in the recently concluded MLC 2025 are expected to feature, with each team playing the others twice in a double round-robin format. The top four sides, after the group proceedings, will make it to the playoffs, with teams ranked one and two facing each other in the first qualifier and the other two teams facing off in the eliminator. The winners of the first qualifier will directly progress to the final, while the losing side will get another shot at the summit clash when they meet the victors of the eliminator contest.

Similar to the 2025 season, the MLC has chosen the June-July window and managed to avoid clashes with other international franchise leagues in the world. The tournament will start after the Indian Premier League’s conclusion in late May and will end before The Hundred kicks off in July.

"Season 3 showed that demand for top-tier cricket in the USA is real and accelerating," Johnny Grave, MLC chief executive, said in a statement. "MLC is winning new fans, followers, and viewers throughout the USA and around the world. We're delivering on our promise to grow the game across the USA and build relations with new and existing commercial partners."

MI New York added a second title to their inaugural triumph when they beat defending champions Washington Freedom in the final of MLC 2025 in July earlier this year.