The 2026 season of GT20 Canada will temporarily set up in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, marking an exciting twist as the tournament relocates to the Caribbean for this particular year. Scheduled for the October to November period, the move aims to “deepen cricketing, developmental, and commercial ties between Canada and the West Indies,” according to a statement from Cricket West Indies (CWI).
This relocation, while exceptional to the 2026 season, is intended to return to its Canadian roots in 2027. It’s envisioned to provide Canadian and rising North American cricketers a chance to compete alongside seasoned Caribbean and international talent. In turn, players from the West Indies will gain increased exposure to the Canadian cricket scene, the release notes.
Chris Dehring, CEO of Cricket West Indies, remarked, “As the only full member of the ICC in the hemisphere, we believe it is important to forge mutually beneficial relationships with ICC Associate Members across the region, for the health of the game and, indeed, for the continued development of West Indies cricket.” His sentiment underscores the strategic importance of this collaboration, highlighting the Caribbean as a stronghold of global cricket.
Arvinder Khosa, President of Cricket Canada, emphasised the significance of this year’s move: “NCL GT20 is fundamentally a Canadian tournament, and the Caribbean provides a special home for our 2026 edition. This is about much more than taking a tournament to another country for one season. It is about building a bridge between Canadian and West Indies cricket, connecting players, administrators, fans and commercial partners.”
Since its inception in 2018, GT20 Canada has completed four seasons, though it faced pandemic-related cancellations in 2020-2022 and went through a major organizational change in 2025. The upcoming 2026 tournament will see a shift from six to five teams, with franchises undergoing a rebranding process. Toronto Nationals took home the title in the 2024 edition by defeating Montreal Tigers in a gripping finale held in Ontario.
Overall, the 2026 GT20 aims to not just be a cricket tournament, but a platform for fostering international cricket relations, offering a blend of competitive spirit and cultural exchange on its temporary Caribbean stage.
