Fifth edition of the second-most watched T20 league in the world scheduled to begin on Sunday, 22 November. Final to be played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, 20 December 2026
Find The Teams, Fixtures , Broadcast Partners of DP World ILT20 Season 5
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (‘Z’), India’s leading content and technology powerhouse, announced the live broadcast schedule of DP World International League T20 (ILT20). Season 5 of the biggest cricket league in the Gulf region – the second-most watched T20 league in the world – DP World International League T20 will begin on Sunday, 22 November 2026. The six-team, 34-match tournament, which has featured some of the biggest T20 stars over the years, will climax with the Season 5 finale on Sunday, 20 December, at the Dubai International Stadium.
The league moved to a December window in Season 4; the first three seasons were played in the January-February window. Season 4 was a big success with enhanced broadcast numbers, and spectator attendance. The tournament’s final (4 January 2026) was played in front of a packed Dubai International Stadium as the Desert Vipers collected their maiden trophy with a 46-run win over the MI Emirates.
Sandeep Mehrotra, Chief Operating Officer – Advertisement Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said, “We are excited to strengthen our association with DP World ILT20 as it enters its fifth season, building on the strong momentum of viewership growth and fan engagement witnessed in previous editions. Our focus is on delivering a high-impact and immersive experience for cricket fans through a seamless blend of platforms, and with Season 5, we aim to further expand the league’s reach, deepen audience connect, and reinforce its position as one of the most compelling T20 leagues globally.”
Cricket fans and sports enthusiasts across India can continue to enjoy the LIVE action on ‘Z’s linear TV channels and its OTT platform, Zee 5. As the network strengthens its sports portfolio, ‘Z’ is also exploring the opportunity to showcase the tournament on its dedicated sports channels, which are slated for launch soon.
CEO DP World ILT20 David White: “We are pleased to confirm the DP World International League T20 Season 5 window. The biggest cricketing spectacle in the Gulf region will be played from Sunday, 22 November to Sunday, 20 December 2026. We are delighted with Season 4’s success. Season 4 was a major success, accumulating 397 million unique viewers across TV and OTT, a 7.49% increase over Season 3, driven by strong broadcast numbers, high spectator interest and the participation of top T20 stars, which further elevated the league’s quality.
“The DP World ILT20 continues to make massive strides and our strategic partnerships with Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation and Kuwait Cricket are already making a big impact. This year, these partnerships will be consolidated further through our development tournaments which will be played in both countries prior to Season 5.
“The DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction was a great success as well and we are already gearing up for this year’s auction. There are a number of exciting announcements and initiatives that will be revealed in the coming days.”
DP World ILT20’s Season 4 featured some of the biggest T20 stars including: Sam Curran (Desert Vipers) – Player of the Tournament and winner of the Best Batter award (Red and Green Belts); Waqar
Salamkheil (MI Emirates) – Best Bowler and White Belt winner; and Muhammad Waseem – Best UAE Player and Blue Belt winner. The star-studded squads also featured the likes of Andre Russell, Azmatullah Omarzai, Dinesh Karthik, Pathum Nissanka, Fakhar Zaman, Jason Holder, Jason Roy, Kieron Pollard, Moeen Ali, Mohammad Nabi, Naseem Shah, Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Romario Shepherd, Shakib Al Hasan, Sikandar Raza, Sunil Narine, Tim David, and Tim Southee.
