The IPL 2026 match schedule runs from March 28 to May 31, 2026. The tournament kicks off with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28 at 7:30 PM IST.
The full schedule includes 70 league matches across 12 venues, followed by playoffs and the final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31. The league stage concludes on May 24.
Cricket fans around the world, mark your calendars. The IPL 2026 match schedule is finally here, and it promises another thrilling season of T20 action. The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League will run from March 28 to May 31, 2026, featuring 70 league matches, playoffs, and a grand finale.
IPL 2026 League Stage First 20 Matches
| Match No. | Date | Day | Time (IST) | Home Team | Away Team | Venue |
| 1 | Mar 28 | Sat | 7:30 PM | RCB | SRH | Bengaluru |
| 2 | Mar 29 | Sun | 7:30 PM | MI | KKR | Mumbai |
| 3 | Mar 30 | Mon | 7:30 PM | RR | CSK | Guwahati |
| 4 | Mar 31 | Tue | 7:30 PM | PBKS | GT | New Chandigarh |
| 5 | Apr 1 | Wed | 7:30 PM | LSG | DC | Lucknow |
| 6 | Apr 2 | Thu | 7:30 PM | KKR | SRH | Kolkata |
| 7 | Apr 3 | Fri | 7:30 PM | CSK | PBKS | Chennai |
| 8 | Apr 4 | Sat | 3:30 PM | DC | MI | Delhi |
| 9 | Apr 4 | Sat | 7:30 PM | GT | RR | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | Apr 5 | Sun | 3:30 PM | SRH | LSG | Hyderabad |
| 11 | Apr 5 | Sun | 7:30 PM | RCB | CSK | Bengaluru |
| 12 | Apr 6 | Mon | 7:30 PM | KKR | PBKS | Kolkata |
| 13 | Apr 7 | Tue | 7:30 PM | RR | MI | Guwahati |
| 14 | Apr 8 | Wed | 7:30 PM | DC | GT | Delhi |
| 15 | Apr 9 | Thu | 7:30 PM | KKR | LSG | Kolkata |
| 16 | Apr 10 | Fri | 7:30 PM | RR | RCB | Guwahati |
| 17 | Apr 11 | Sat | 3:30 PM | PBKS | SRH | New Chandigarh |
| 18 | Apr 11 | Sat | 7:30 PM | CSK | DC | Chennai |
| 19 | Apr 12 | Sun | 3:30 PM | LSG | GT | Lucknow |
| 20 | Apr 12 | Sun | 7:30 PM | MI | RCB | Mumbai |
Full remaining 50 matches (April 13 – May 24) are available on the official IPL website.
IPL 2026 Venues
| Venue | City | Home Team | Matches |
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru | RCB | 5 |
| Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium | Raipur | RCB | 2 |
| Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium | New Chandigarh | PBKS | 4 |
| HPCA Stadium | Dharamsala | PBKS | 3 |
| Barsapara Cricket Stadium | Guwahati | RR | 3 |
| Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur | RR | 4 |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | MI | 7 |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi | DC | 7 |
| M.A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | CSK | 7 |
| Ekana Stadium | Lucknow | LSG | 7 |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | Hyderabad | SRH | 7 |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | KKR | 7 |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | GT | 7 |
IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
| Qualifier 1 | May 26 | Dharamsala |
| Eliminator | May 27 | New Chandigarh |
| Qualifier 2 | May 29 | New Chandigarh |
| Final | May 31 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
ARTICLE BODY
IPL 2026 at a Glance Tournament Overview
The Indian Premier League returns for its 19th season in 2026, bringing together the world’s best T20 cricketers for two months of high-octane action. The IPL 2026 match schedule features 70 league matches, with each of the 10 teams playing 14 matches in a round-robin format.
The tournament begins on March 28 and the league stage concludes on May 24. The top four teams then advance to the playoffs, culminating in the final on May 31.
IPL 2026 Teams and Captains
Ten franchises will compete in IPL 2026. Notably, nine teams have Indian captains, with Australian pacer Pat Cummins being the only overseas skipper leading Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Rajasthan Royals have a new leader in Riyan Parag, who took over after Sanju Samson’s trade to Chennai Super Kings. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be led by Rajat Patidar.
Complete IPL 2026 Match Schedule
The BCCI announced the full IPL 2026 match schedule in two phases due to assembly elections in several states. The first phase (March 28 – April 12) was released on March 11, while the second phase (April 13 – May 24) was announced on March 26.
The opening match features defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The league stage concludes with Kolkata Knight Riders facing Delhi Capitals on May 24.
IPL 2026 Venues Full List
IPL 2026 will be played across 12 cities, with several teams splitting home games between two venues.
- RCB plays five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur.
- Punjab Kings plays four in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamsala.
- Rajasthan Royals plays three in Guwahati and four in Jaipur.
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket stadium, will host the final.
IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
The IPL 2026 playoffs will follow the traditional four-team format:
- Qualifier 1 (May 26): First vs Second – winner goes to the final
- Eliminator (May 27): Third vs Fourth – loser is eliminated
- Qualifier 2 (May 29): Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator
- Final (May 31): Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2
Dharamsala will host Qualifier 1, while New Chandigarh hosts the Eliminator and Qualifier 2.
IPL 2026 Match Timings
Most IPL 2026 matches start at 7:30 PM IST. On double-header days, the afternoon match begins at 3:30 PM IST, followed by the evening fixture at 7:30 PM IST.
IPL 2026 Format How the Tournament Works
The 10 teams are divided into two groups based on the number of IPL titles won. This season features a format change – teams now play teams in their group once and teams from the other group twice (reversed from previous seasons).
Each team plays 14 matches (7 home, 7 away). The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
Key Changes and Highlights for IPL 2026
Raipur Joins as a Venue: The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur will host two RCB home matches – a first for the venue.
Delhi Capitals Return Home: Unlike recent seasons where they shared home duties with Visakhapatnam, DC will play all home matches in Delhi.
Schedule Released in Two Phases: Due to assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, the BCCI released the IPL 2026 match schedule in two phases.
Format Change: Teams play cross-group opponents twice and same-group opponents once.
How to Download IPL 2026 Schedule PDF
Fans can download the official IPL 2026 match schedule PDF from the BCCI’s official website (iplt20.com). Several sports news websites also offer the complete fixture list in downloadable PDF format.
FAQs
1. When does IPL 2026 start?
IPL 2026 begins on March 28, 2026, with the opening match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru at 7:30 PM IST.
2. When is the IPL 2026 final?
The IPL 2026 final is scheduled for May 31, 2026. The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
3. How many matches are there in IPL 2026?
IPL 2026 features 70 league matches, followed by four playoff matches (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final), making a total of 74 matches.
4. Which teams are playing in IPL 2026?
The 10 teams are Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
5. Who is the defending champion of IPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the defending champions, having won their maiden IPL title in 2025.
6. Where can I download the IPL 2026 schedule PDF?
The official IPL 2026 schedule PDF is available for download on the BCCI’s official website (iplt20.com). Several sports news platforms also offer the fixture list in PDF format.
7. What is the IPL 2026 playoff format?
The top four teams qualify for the playoffs. Qualifier 1 is between 1st and 2nd (winner goes to final). Eliminator is between 3rd and 4th (loser eliminated). Qualifier 2 is between the loser of Qualifier 1 and winner of Eliminator. The winner of Qualifier 2 faces the Qualifier 1 winner in the final.
8. Where will the IPL 2026 playoffs be held?
Qualifier 1 will be held in Dharamsala on May 26. The Eliminator and Qualifier 2 will be held in New Chandigarh on May 27 and 29 respectively. The final will be in Ahmedabad on May 31.
9. What time do IPL 2026 matches start?
Most matches start at 7:30 PM IST. On double-header days, the first match begins at 3:30 PM IST and the second at 7:30 PM IST.
10. Who are the captains of IPL 2026 teams?
The captains are: Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK), Axar Patel (DC), Shubman Gill (GT), Ajinkya Rahane (KKR), Hardik Pandya (MI), Riyan Parag (RR), Rajat Patidar (RCB), Pat Cummins (SRH), Shreyas Iyer (PBKS), and Rishabh Pant (LSG).
CONCLUSION
The IPL 2026 match schedule promises another unforgettable season of T20 cricket. With 70 league matches spread across 12 venues, fans across India and the globe have plenty of opportunities to catch their favorite teams in action.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to defend their maiden title, but they face stiff competition from powerhouses like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders. The introduction of Raipur as a venue, the return of Delhi Capitals to their home ground, and the format change adding more cross-group matches make this season particularly intriguing.
The playoffs starting May 26 in Dharamsala and New Chandigarh, culminating in the grand finale at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31, will determine the IPL 2026 champion. Whether you’re planning to attend matches in person or follow the action from home, mark your calendars the IPL 2026 season is set to be a cricketing spectacle like no other.
