The West End phenomenon Wicked is set to bring its magic to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, opening the tournament with a live performance at Edgbaston on 12 June.
In a first for global sport, stars Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen will perform as Elphaba and Glinda, leading the full London company in a special showcase ahead of England’s opening match against Sri Lanka.
The performance marks the first collaboration between a major West End musical and an international cricket event, and celebrates 20 years of Wicked in London.
Audiences in the stadium and viewers worldwide will experience iconic numbers from the hit musical, broadcast across Sky Sports, Sky Mix and the Sky Sports app in the UK before the first ball is bowled.
The collaboration is part of the ICC’s ambition to broaden the tournament’s appeal by fusing elite sport with world-class entertainment.
A statement from Wicked London said: “For two decades years, Wicked has brought audiences together through unforgettable live performance, so to open the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in front of a global sporting audience is incredibly exciting for us.
“There is a real sense of drama, emotion and anticipation shared between theatre and live sport, and this performance is a chance to bring those worlds together in a truly unique way on one of the biggest stages possible.”
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta added: “Our core belief is that the ICC’s marquee global events should serve as platforms for content, community, culture and commerce with the athletic spectacle as the core product.
“Partnering with the globally celebrated production of Wicked for the opening ceremony of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 reflects our ambition to take the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 beyond its existing position of a premier sporting event into expanded realms of culture and entertainment. The association with Wicked also helps attract an audience which is increasingly seeking novel, enriching, big-event experiences.
“We want to blend sport, music, and culture in a way that transcends the traditional boundaries around our competitions. With this performance, we aim to create an immersive, globally resonant moment that drives deeper interest for the event, targets wider cohorts of fans and fosters an enriched sense of community.
“The Women’s T20 World Cup has grown into one of the most watched and followed women’s sporting events globally, and with this opening ceremony, we are demonstrating that the ICC is committed to delivering novel, world-class experiences both in the stadium and across engagement platforms to billions of fans.”
Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild said: “You wouldn’t normally expect to see world-class cricket sharing the same stage as a hit West End musical, but that is exactly what makes this such an unmissable way to open the tournament.
“Bringing the magic of Wicked and its hugely talented cast to Edgbaston will create an epic night of spectacle, emotion, and atmosphere. It will also set the tone for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, opening 24 days of competition showcasing the very best in global cricket, with dramatic showdowns, unlimited excitement and gravity defying moments of unparalleled sporting skill. We can’t wait to get things started!”
More than 150,000 tickets have already been sold for the tournament, which will feature 33 matches across seven venues in England and Wales over 24 days.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
