The 2026 Hundred tournament marks the sixth edition of the ECB's accelerated cricket format, arriving with significant commercial restructuring following investor stakes in the eight competing teams. The tournament has attracted over half a billion pounds in investment, with portions distributed to the country's 18 cricket counties and grassroots development programmes. Three teams have adopted new identities linked to Indian Premier League groups—Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds, and MI London—reflecting the international ownership changes.

The tournament unfolds over four weeks beginning 21 July, with both men's and women's competitions running in parallel according to identical rules: each team faces 100 deliveries per match, designed to fit within a 2.5-hour window. Eight teams representing UK cities compete through group-stage rounds until 12 August, with the top-placed side advancing directly to the Lord's final. The second and third-ranked teams contest an eliminator match at The Oval on 14 August, determining the second finalist for the combined championship on 16 August.