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IPL 2026: Full Schedule, Teams, Format and Venue
IPL 2026: Full Schedule, Teams, Format and Venue
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to run from March 28 to May 31, 2026, with the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening clash. The tournament features 10 teams competing in a format that includes 70 league matches followed by the traditional four-game playoff series (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final). Matches are held across 12 primary cities, including major hubs like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, as well as secondary home grounds in Dharamsala, Guwahati, and Raipur.
Key Details & Format
-
Dates: March 28 to May 31, 2026.
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Format: The league has expanded to 84 matches (up from 74). Each of the 10 teams will play 16 group-stage matches in a double round-robin format.
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Playoffs: The top four teams follow the standard knockout system: Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final.
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Match Timings: Evening matches start at 7:30 PM IST; afternoon double-headers start at 3:30 PM IST.
Participating Teams
The 10 franchises competing this season are:
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) - Defending Champions
-
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
-
Mumbai Indians (MI)
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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
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Gujarat Titans (GT)
-
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
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Rajasthan Royals (RR)
-
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
-
Delhi Capitals (DC)
IPL 2026 Match Timings
Matches will be played at two main time slots:
-
Afternoon: 3:30 PM IST
- Evening: 7:30 PM IST
Venues & Host Cities
The tournament is being played across 12 cities, with some teams utilizing secondary "home" grounds:
| Team | Primary Venue | Secondary/Other Venues |
| RCB | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium (Raipur) |
| CSK | MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai) | — |
| MI | Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) | — |
| KKR | Eden Gardens (Kolkata) | — |
| GT | Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad) | — |
| SRH | Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Stadium (Hyderabad) | — |
| LSG | Ekana Cricket Stadium (Lucknow) | — |
| RR | Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Jaipur) | Barsapara Stadium (Guwahati) |
| PBKS | New PCA Stadium (Mullanpur) | HPCA Stadium (Dharamshala) |
| DC | Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi) | — |
Opening Phase Schedule
|
S. No.
|
Date
|
Match
|
Venue
|
Time
|
|
1.
|
Mar 28
|
RCB vs SRH
|
Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
|
2.
|
Mar 29
|
MI vs KKR
|
Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
|
3.
|
Mar 30
|
RR vs CSK
|
Guwahati
|
7:30 PM
|
|
4.
|
Mar 31
|
PBKS vs GT
|
Mullanpur
|
7:30 PM
|
|
5.
|
Apr 1
|
LSG vs DC
|
Lucknow
|
7:30 PM
|
|
6.
|
Apr 2
|
KKR vs SRH
|
Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
|
7.
|
Apr 3
|
CSK vs PBKS
|
Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
|
8.
|
Apr 4
|
DC vs MI
|
Delhi
|
3:30 PM
|
|
9.
|
Apr 4
|
GT vs RR
|
Ahmedabad
|
7:30 PM
|
|
10.
|
Apr 5
|
SRH vs LSG
|
Hyderabad
|
3:30 PM
|
|
11.
|
Apr 5
|
RCB vs CSK
|
Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
|
12.
|
Apr 6
|
KKR vs PBKS
|
Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
|
13.
|
Apr 7
|
RR vs MI
|
Guwahati
|
7:30 PM
|
|
14.
|
Apr 8
|
DC vs GT
|
Delhi
|
7:30 PM
|
|
15.
|
Apr 9
|
KKR vs LSG
|
Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
|
16.
|
Apr 10
|
RR vs RCB
|
Guwahati
|
7:30 PM
|
|
17.
|
Apr 11
|
PBKS vs SRH
|
Mullanpur
|
3:30 PM
|
|
18.
|
Apr 11
|
CSK vs DC
|
Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
|
19.
|
Apr 12
|
LSG vs GT
|
Lucknow
|
3:30 PM
|
|
20.
|
Apr 12
|
MI vs RCB
|
Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
IPL Inauguration Cancelled Due to Tragedy
The BCCI has officially cancelled the IPL 2026 opening ceremony as a mark of respect for the victims of a tragic stampede that occurred last year.
The decision centers on a humanitarian gesture following an incident on June 4, 2025, outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. During celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden IPL title win, overcrowding led to a stampede that claimed the lives of 11 fans.
Key Details of the Decision:
-
Mark of Respect: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that no cultural or entertainment shows will be held at the start of the season to honor the "departed souls."
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Memorial Tributes: Instead of a celebration, the opening match (RCB vs. SRH) will include a minute of silence. Additionally, 11 seats at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will be left permanently vacant as a tribute to the victims.
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Closing Ceremony: While the inauguration is cancelled, the BCCI is currently planning a "grand closing ceremony" to take place on the day of the final, May 31, 2026.
This is the first time the BCCI has scrapped the opening ceremony for humanitarian reasons since 2019, when the event was cancelled following the Pulwama attack and the funds were donated to the families of the martyred personnel.
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