ILT20 Final 2026 in Dubai

The ILT20 Final in Dubai crowns the champions of DP World ILT20 Season 5 at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday 20 December 2026. The winner of Qualifier 1 meets the winner of Qualifier 2 in the last match of the season, and for the first time the league’s title will be decided before Christmas rather than in the new year.

The gates open early, at 3:30pm, with the first ball scheduled for 6:30pm, so there is plenty of time to settle in before the toss on the biggest night of the UAE’s franchise cricket calendar.

How the ILT20 Final in Dubai is decided

Season 5 of the DP World International League T20 is a six-team, 34-match tournament running from late November to 20 December 2026. Thirty league games are followed by a four-match play-off week spread across all three host emirates.

The top two teams meet in Qualifier 1 in Abu Dhabi on 16 December, and the winner of that game goes straight to the Final. The third and fourth-placed sides play the Eliminator in Dubai on 17 December, and the Eliminator winner then meets the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 in Sharjah on 18 December. The winner in Sharjah takes the second place in the Final. That means one finalist will have had a few days’ rest, while the other may have needed two knockout wins in two nights just to get here.

The ticket page lists the match as Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2, and the finalists are only settled on the Friday night before. Earlier seasons ended in January or February, so a mid-December final is a change of rhythm for the league and gives fans a cricket night out before the holidays.

Four finals, four different winners

The ILT20 has produced a different champion every year. Gulf Giants won the inaugural final in 2023, beating Desert Vipers by seven wickets. MI Emirates won in 2024, posting 208 for 3 and beating Dubai Capitals by 45 runs, with half-centuries from Andre Fletcher and Nicholas Pooran. In 2025 Dubai Capitals finally got their hands on the trophy, beating Desert Vipers by four wickets at Dubai International Stadium.

The most recent final, on 4 January 2026, went to Desert Vipers at the third attempt. They made 182 for 4 and bowled MI Emirates out for 136 in 18.3 overs to win by 46 runs, with captain Sam Curran unbeaten on 74 and named Player of the Match. Curran also took the Most Valuable Player and Best Batter belts for the season, MI Emirates’ Muhammad Waseem won the Best UAE Player belt for a fourth season in a row, and Dubai Capitals’ Waqar Salamkheil was named Best Bowler.

That final was also a show in itself: the crowd was treated to fireworks and a surprise drone display before the match, which held up the start by around 25 minutes. Whether the Vipers defend their title or a fifth different name goes on the trophy, this is the night the season has been building towards.

Dubai International Stadium on final night

Dubai International Stadium has hosted the last two ILT20 finals and stages this one too. Opened in 2009 in Dubai Sports City, it holds around 25,000 spectators, and its “Ring of Fire” lighting, about 350 floodlights built into the curved roof instead of on towers, gives night matches a distinctive glow. Dubai hosts 15 of the 34 Season 5 matches, including the Eliminator three nights earlier.

For ILT20 games, all enclosures are unreserved except the Platinum Enclosure, so most seating is first come, first served, and with the gates opening three hours before play, early arrivals have the widest choice. Each stand has a different view of the pitch and a different amount of shade, and some seats have restricted views. A T20 match runs for around three and a half hours, so the trophy presentation should come late on Sunday evening.

Tickets, entry rules and getting there

Tickets are sold through Platinumlist, with a limit of 10 per person, and are emailed 48 hours before the match. Each ticket is valid for one entry. Children aged 5 and over need their own ticket. Under-fives can enter free on an adult’s lap, one child per adult, and anyone under 15 must stay with an adult at all times. Photo ID may be requested to confirm a child’s age.

Alcohol cannot be brought in and smoking is only allowed in designated areas. Outside food and drinks are restricted unless medically required, metal cans and glass bottles are not allowed unless bought inside, and strollers, umbrellas, camping chairs, drones, laser pointers, horns, cool boxes, oversized bags and professional filming equipment are restricted. There is no bag drop and you may be searched on entry. No dress code is listed.

The stadium is on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, with parking at Dubai Sports City. By public transport, take the Metro Red Line to Dubai Internet City station, then the F34 bus to Dubai Sports City. Taxis can drop you at the stadium.

Follow the road to the Final at the ILT20 Qualifier 1 in Abu Dhabi and the ILT20 Qualifier 2 in Sharjah, browse more sports events in the UAE, or plan the rest of the weekend with our guides to things to do in Dubai and things to do in December.