The ICC T20 World Cup, formerly the ICC World Twenty20, is a biennial world cup for cricket in the 20-over format, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Men's T20 World Cup in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format was held in every odd year from 2007 to 2009, and since 2010 has been held in every even year with the exception of 2018 and 2020. The Women's T20 World Cup in the Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) format was inaugurated in 2009, and since 2010 has been held in every even year with the exception of 2022. In 2018, the tournaments were rebranded from the World Twenty20 to the T20 World Cup. Until 2016, both men's and women's tournaments were held together; since 2018 both are held separately but in the same calendar year with the exception of 2018 and 2020–2023.

The 2011 editions of the tournaments were brought forward to 2010 to replace the ICC Champions Trophy. In May 2016, the ICC put forward the idea of having a men's tournament in 2018, with South Africa being the possible host country, but later dropped the idea due to multiple men's bilateral series taking place that year. The 2020 edition of the men's tournament was scheduled to take place in Australia but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was postponed until 2021, with the intended host changed to India. The 2021 Men's T20 World Cup was later relocated to the United Arab Emirates and Oman due to problems relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, taking place five years after the previous (2016) edition. The 2022 edition of the women's tournament was scheduled to take place in South Africa but was postponed to 2023 due to the Women's ODI Cricket World Cup taking place in 2022. The 2024 Women's T20 World Cup was scheduled to take place in Bangladesh but was relocated to the United Arab Emirates due to the political unrest in Bangladesh.

As of 2026, ten men's editions have been played; a total of 25 teams have competed and six teams have won the Men's T20 World Cup. India (2007, 2024, 2026) are the most successful team with three titles. West Indies (2012, 2016) and England (2010, 2022) have won it twice, while Pakistan (2009), Sri Lanka (2014), and Australia (2021) have one title each. A total of 15 countries have hosted the men's tournament (including 6 island nations of the West Indies). India are the current champions, having won their third title in the 2026 edition. The next edition of the men's tournament will take place in Australia and New Zealand in 2028.

As of 2026, ten women's editions have been played; a total of 13 teams have competed and four teams have won the Women's T20 World Cup. Australia (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2026) are the most successful team with seven titles. England (2009), New Zealand (2024) and West Indies (2016) have one title each. A total of 12 countries have hosted the women's tournament (including 5 island nations of the West Indies). Australia are the current champions, having won their seventh title in the 2026 edition. The next edition of the women's tournament will take place in Pakistan in 2028.

Background When the Benson & Hedges Cup ended in 2002, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sought another one-day competition to appeal to the younger generation in response to dwindling crowds and reduced sponsorship. The board wanted to deliver fast-paced, exciting cricket accessible to fans who were put off by the longer versions of the game. Stuart Robertson, the marketing manager of the ECB, proposed a 20-over per innings game to county chairmen in 2001, and they voted 11–7 in favour of adopting the new format.

Regional competitions

The first official Twenty20 matches were played on 13 June 2003 between the English counties in the T20 Blast's inaugural edition. The first season of Twenty20 in England was a relative success, with Surrey defeating Warwickshire by 9 wickets in the final to claim the title. The first official Women's Twenty20 matches were played on 29 May 2004 as part of the 2004 Super Fours. The first Twenty20 match held at Lord's, on 15 July 2004 between Middlesex and Surrey, attracted a crowd of 26,500, the largest attendance for any county cricket game at the ground since 1953.

Soon after with the adoption of the Twenty20 format by other cricket boards, the popularity of the format grew with higher crowd attendance, new regional tournaments and the financial incentive in the format. West Indies regional teams competed in what was named the Stanford 20/20 tournament which was financially backed by billionaire Allen Stanford, who gave at least US$28,000,000 funding money; with the intent for the tournament to be an annual event. A spin-off tournament, the Stanford Super Series was held in October 2008 between Middlesex and Trinidad and Tobago, the respective winners of the English and Caribbean Twenty20 competitions, and a Stanford Superstars team formed from West Indies domestic players.

Twenty20 Internationals

The first full international women's Twenty20 match was played on 5 August 2004 between England and New Zealand at County Cricket Ground in Hove. The first full international men's Twenty20 match was played on 17 February 2005 between Australia and New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland. The game was played in a light-hearted manner.

Initial years (2007–2010) The 2007, 2009 and 2010 men's tournaments were included in the 2006–2012 ICC Men's Future Tours Programme.

2007 ICC World Twenty20

The first World Twenty20 tournament was in 2007 in South Africa. Ten then full members qualified directly for the tournament along with the top two teams from the 2007 WCL Division One. Twelve teams played in a round-robin group stage of four groups; from which two teams from each group advanced to the Super 8 stage. Super 8 stage was played in a round-robin format of two groups; from which two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage of four teams.

In the final, India defeated Pakistan by 5 runs at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg to become the inaugural champions of the men's tournament. Australia's Matthew Hayden scored the most runs in the tournament (265) while Pakistan's Umar Gul took the most wickets (13). Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was named as the player of the tournament.

2009 ICC World Twenty20

In December 2007, the ICC approved a Women's World Twenty20 tournament to be held alongside the men's tournament from the 2009 tournament (men's • women's) in England onwards. The ICC also introduced a separate men's qualifier for the associate teams advanced from the World Cricket League, through which top two associates qualified for the World Twenty20 while all ten full members were given direct qualification. The first World Twenty20 Qualifier was held in August 2008 in Ireland featuring 6 teams.

Following Zimbabwe's withdrawal due to the political issues related to Robert Mugabe and British government's ban from touring England; a third team from the qualifier: Scotland replaced them in the 2009 men's tournament. The men's tournament was held in the same format as 2007, along with the introduction of Super Over as match tie-breaker. In the men's final, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 8 wickets at Lord's in London to become the champions of the 2009 men's tournament. Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan scored the most runs in the tournament (317) while Pakistan's Umar Gul took the most wickets (13). Tillakaratne Dilshan was also named as the player of the tournament.

The women's tournament featured the top eight teams from the ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings playing in a round-robin of two groups; from which two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage of four teams. In the women's final, England defeated New Zealand by 6 wickets at Lord's to become the inaugural champions of the women's tournament. New Zealand's Aimee Watkins scored the most runs in the tournament (200) while England's Holly Colvin took the most wickets (9). England's Claire Taylor was named as the player of the tournament.

2010 ICC World Twenty20

Next cycle of tournaments (men's • women's) in the West Indies, initially scheduled for 2011 were brought forward to 2010 to replace the ICC Champions Trophy. This scheduling bottleneck was caused after the 5th edition of the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in 2008, was delayed to 2009 and was shifted to South Africa due to the security concerns in the aftermath of Pakistani attack on the Sri Lanka team. The Champions Trophy was converted into a quadrennial tournament after that. Both tournaments retained the formats they had in 2009. The second men's qualifier was held in February 2010 in the United Arab Emirates featuring 8 teams.

In the men's final, England defeated Australia by 7 wickets at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown to become the champions of the 2010 men's tournament and win their maiden title at an ICC men's event. Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene scored the most runs in the tournament (302) while Australia's Dirk Nannes took the most wickets (14). England's Kevin Pietersen was named as the player of the tournament.

In the women's final, Australia defeated New Zealand by 3 runs at Kensington Oval to become the champions of the 2010 women's tournament. New Zealand's Sara McGlashan scored the most runs in the tournament (147) while India's Diana David and New Zealand's Nicola Browne were tied for taking the most wickets (9 each). Nicola Browne was also named as the player of the tournament.

Tournament expansions (2012–2016) The 2012, 2014 and 2016 men's tournaments were included in the initial 2011–2020 ICC Men's Future Tours Programme draft. The 2016 men's tournament was included in the finalised 2015–2019 ICC Men's Future Tours Programme.

2012 ICC World Twenty20

The 2012 cycle of tournaments were to be expanded but were kept in the same format as 2009 and 2010 for one last time. A new expanded qualification pathway for the 2012 men's tournament was introduced. Six top associates from the previous cycle directly competed in the global qualifier while 81 associate nations competed in the regional qualifiers for the remaining ten spots in the global qualifier in March 2012 in the United Arab Emirates. Two associates from the global qualifier qualified for the World Twenty20 while, all ten full members were given direct qualification.

In the men's final, West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 36 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to become the champions of the 2012 men's tournament and win their first ICC title since 1979. Australia's Shane Watson scored the most runs in the tournament (249) while Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis took the most wickets (15). Shane Watson was also named as the player of the tournament.

The 2012 women's tournament also included two place playoffs to decide qualification berths for the following (2014) tournament. In the women's final, Australia defeated England by 4 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium to become the champions of the 2012 women's tournament and win their second consecutive title. England's Charlotte Edwards scored the most runs in the tournament (172) while Australia's Julie Hunter took the most wickets (11). Charlotte Edwards was also named as the player of the tournament.

2014 ICC World Twenty20