The Hundred 2026 launches with rebranded teams and auction

The sixth edition of The Hundred, England's professional 100-ball cricket competition, begins on July 21, 2026, marking the start of a transformed tournament following significant private investment. The month-long event, which concludes with finals on August 16, features simultaneous men's and women's competitions played as doubleheaders at major venues across England and Wales.

This season ushers in a new commercial era for the tournament, which is organized by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Three of the eight franchises have been rebranded with new identities following ownership changes. The defending men's champions, formerly Oval Invincibles, are now MI London. The Northern Superchargers, the 2025 women's winners, have become Sunrisers Leeds, and Manchester Originals are now Manchester Super Giants. The changes were accompanied by the tournament's first-ever player auction in March, which saw a 45 percent increase in the salary cap and led to major squad reshuffles involving stars like Joe Root, Adil Rashid, Issy Wong, and Alice Capsey.

The tournament retains its unique 100-ball per innings format, a structure confirmed by officials to continue for the current...