The Hundred's 2026 season, which begins on 21 July, features significant changes following a major ownership shake-up. In 2025 the England and Wales Cricket Board completed the sale of stakes in all eight teams, generating more than £500m for reinvestment in English and Welsh cricket, with four teams now partly owned by groups also linked to Indian Premier League franchises.

The new ownership has brought rebrands: the Northern Superchargers are now Sunrisers Leeds, the Oval Invincibles have become MI London, and the Manchester Originals are now the Manchester Super Giants, each with new badges and kits, while Southern Brave and London Spirit have changed their colour schemes without renaming. The women's competition opens with MI London against Sunrisers Leeds at The Oval on 21 July, with group matches running until 12 August, eliminators on 14 August and both finals staged at Lord's on 16 August. A March player auction also reshaped squads, with Harry Brook (£460,000, Sunrisers Leeds), Phil Salt (£450,000, Welsh Fire) and Jofra Archer (£400,000, Southern Brave) among the biggest signings.