Kanpur: The fourth edition of the UP T20 League will commence on Aug 14, 2026, and will be held across two cities for the first time, with matches scheduled in Lucknow and Kanpur.The tournament will begin at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow and conclude at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.The decision was announced after a meeting of the league’s governing council on Sunday.UP T20 League chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor said the opening phase of the competition will be held in Lucknow from August 14 to 26, during which 22 matches will be played over 13 days.The second phase, including the final, will be held at Green Park Stadium from Aug 28 to Sept 6, 2026, with a total of 12 matches scheduled during the 11-day phase.The opening ceremony will be organised in the presence of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Dr Kapoor said the 24-day tournament would feature 13 double-header days with two matches each and eight single-header days.Another new feature this season is a banner and hoarding competition to be organised across districts of Uttar Pradesh. The best banner or hoarding promoting the league will receive a cash prize, while the winning participants will be invited to watch a tournament match. The initiative aims to spread the excitement of the UP T20 League across all districts of the state.Former India cricketer Suresh Raina will continue as the league’s brand ambassador, as in previous editions. The prize money will remain unchanged at Rs 3 crore.The champions will receive Rs 1 crore, while the runners-up will be awarded Rs 60 lakh. The remaining prize money will be distributed among the other teams according to their final standings.UPCA secretary Prem Manohar Gupta said the mini auction for players will be held in Agra on July 24, 2026. A total of 45 player slots are available for the six franchise teams participating in the league.
