Decade of change for women's and girls' sport continues in full force into 2026
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“We want to inspire people to fall in love with sport, to feel
welcome in it” says England Red Roses captain Zoe Stratford OBE.
Another historic year in women's sport lies ahead with England and
Wales to host cricket's ICC's Women's T20 World Cup 2026 plus medal
hopes for the European Athletics Championships and the Glasgow
Commonwealth Games. The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 set new
records for tickets and...Request free
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2026 promises to be another landmark year for women's sport at every level, with the UK hosting major tournaments including cricket's ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales alongside continued grassroots investment to support women and girls playing sport. Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock will continue her mission of cementing the UK as world leader in women's sport by 2035 by spearheading the new Women's Sport Taskforce with the aim of creating a decade of change for women's and girls' sport. 2025 marked a watershed moment in viewing habits, with the Women's Rugby World Cup breaking records on and off the pitch, selling over 440,000 tickets and with a record-breaking peak audience of almost 6 million watching the final on TV. England Red Roses captain Zoe Stratford reflecting on the past year and hopes for the future of women's rugby said “...We want to inspire people to fall in love with sport, to feel welcome in it, and to believe that pulling on an England jersey one day is possible” 2025 Women's Sport Highlights in numbers:
2026 will see the women's T20 World Cup hosted in England and Wales, the European Athletics Championships held in Birmingham and the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, providing even more opportunities for the public to witness some of Britain's and the world's most recognisable female sporting stars. Hosting these major sporting events delivers significant economic benefits to local communities — creating jobs, boosting tourism, and showcasing the UK globally. Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: "2026 promises to be another exciting step forward in our mission to create a transformational decade for Women's Sport. Major events like the cricket's Women's T20 World Cup will showcase elite female athletes while continued investment in grassroots and the ongoing work of the Women's Sport Taskforce will help drive progress at every level. "Looking back at 2025, it has been full of incredible moments. From packed stadiums watching the Red Roses triumph at the Women's Rugby World Cup to watching the Lionesses roar to success in the Euros — here's to many more unforgettable moments in 2026." England Women Cricket Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt: “We're so excited for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup on home soil next year. There's nothing more special than playing in front of your own fans, and it'll be even more memorable as part of a global event. Hopefully we will see packed-out grounds and we can go all the way.” England Red Roses captain Zoe Stratford OBE: "2025 was truly the year for women's sport. "Playing in a home World Cup and having that pinnacle moment of winning the tournament was something dreams are made of. Running out in front of packed stadiums across England, feeling that noise and support behind us, really showed how far women's sport has come. You can see it everywhere right now; from the Lionesses to England women's cricket, and it's incredible to be part of that momentum. "The record-breaking crowds and TV audiences, as well as the support on social media, prove that people genuinely care and believe in what we're doing. As players, that support gives us so much, but it also brings a responsibility. We want to inspire people to fall in love with sport, to feel welcome in it, and to believe that pulling on an England jersey one day is possible, whether they're watching, playing, or just starting to dream.“ Progress in 2025 To create a lasting impact from the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, the government worked with the RFU to invest £14.55m into the Impact 25 -legacy programme. So far it's reached 850 clubs nationwide, resulting in almost 23,000 girls now playing rugby, a 9.3% year-on-year increase. The government has committed at least £400 million over the next four years to continue investing in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities across the country, ensuring this momentum continues. Fans were also treated to watching the Lionesses secure back-to-back European Championship titles in Switzerland with 65,000 supporters packing out the Mall for the victory parade. We also saw the UK-wide bid to host the FIFA Women's World Cup 2035™, submitted in November 2025, with FIFA expected to decide hosts in April 2026. 2025 saw the launch of the Women's Sport Taskforce representing a pivotal moment in the government's commitment to transforming women's sport at every level. The first meeting during the Women's Rugby World Cup brought together leaders from across sport and academia, including Sport England and UK Sport as standing members. The government also announced new plans that are expected to more than double the share of primetime slots dedicated to women's and girls' teams at Government-funded facilities across England over the next five years, with a clear long-term target of reaching equal access as demand grows. The taskforce over 2026 will continue to address the key barriers that slow progress whilst showcasing innovation and best practice. Through its focused approach leading up to the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup, the taskforce is creating powerful pathways that connect grassroots participation to elite success, ensuring that every girl who dreams of playing sport has the facilities, coaching and opportunities to progress, regardless of her background. |