IPL 2026: Confirmed Dates, Match Schedule, Venues and All 10 Competing Teams
IPL 2026 is officially happening from March 28 to May 31, 2026 — the biggest edition in IPL history with 84 matches, 10 teams, and defending champions RCB opening the tournament at home in Bengaluru.
Check the complete IPL 2026 schedule and fixture details the moment BCCI drops the official announcement.
IPL 2026 Quick Facts
| Detail | Confirmed Info |
|---|---|
| Start Date | March 28, 2026 (Saturday) |
| Final Date | May 31, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Total Matches | 84 (80 league + 4 playoffs) |
| Format | Double Round-Robin + Playoffs |
| Opening Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Final Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Defending Champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Schedule Release | Two phases (March 9 onwards) |
Why the Full Schedule Isn’t Out Yet
This is the biggest talking point right now. The BCCI was expected to release the full fixture list on March 8, then pushed it to March 9, and as of the evening of March 9 — still nothing confirmed. Fans are frustrated, and understandably so. Only 19 days until the first ball is bowled and most franchises still don’t know their complete home schedule.
The reason is straightforward. State assembly elections are approaching in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry between March and May 2026. The Election Commission of India hasn’t finalised polling dates yet, and that directly affects three IPL franchises:
- KKR (Kolkata, West Bengal)
- CSK (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- RR (Guwahati, Assam — secondary venue)
Until polling dates are locked, the BCCI cannot confirm match dates and security arrangements for those cities. The BCCI has confirmed a two-phase schedule release — Phase 1 covering approximately the first 15 days (March 28 to mid-April), with Phase 2 following once the Election Commission announces dates. This is not new — the same approach was used in the 2019 and 2024 election years.
The Election Commission is expected to announce state election dates around March 11. If that happens, Phase 2 of the IPL schedule could drop within days after that.
IPL 2026 Opening Match and Playoff Schedule
| Stage | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Match | March 28, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Qualifier 1 | May 26, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Eliminator | May 27, 2026 | Ahmedabad or Raipur (TBC) |
| Qualifier 2 | May 29, 2026 | Ahmedabad or Raipur (TBC) |
| IPL 2026 Final | May 31, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
As per tradition, the opening match features the defending champions — so RCB host at Chinnaswamy on March 28. Their likely opponent is Punjab Kings, the team they beat in the IPL 2025 final by just 6 runs. That result hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it’s the strong expectation.
Bengaluru hosts three of the five most important matches this season: the opener, Qualifier 1, and the Final. That’s a significant decision by the IPL Governing Council and reflects the city’s status as IPL’s home this season.
All 10 Teams and Captains for IPL 2026
The full squad details for all 10 franchises are already confirmed following the December 2025 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. Here’s who leads each side:
| Team | Captain | Home Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Ajinkya Rahane | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Rajasthan Royals | Riyan Parag | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Rishabh Pant | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pat Cummins | Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Punjab Kings | Shreyas Iyer | New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur |
A few captaincy changes worth noting. Riyan Parag takes the RR armband — one of the youngest captains in recent IPL history. Ajinkya Rahane leads a completely rebuilt KKR squad after their disappointing 2025 campaign. Rishabh Pant enters his second full season as LSG captain with a much stronger squad around him.
Key Things to Know About IPL 2026
84 matches for the first time. The IPL Governing Council officially expanded the tournament from 74 to 84 matches. More cricket, more chances for teams to build momentum, and more opportunities for upsets across a longer league stage.
RCB play home games in Raipur too. RCB will play 5 home matches at Chinnaswamy and 2 home fixtures at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur. RCB CEO Rajesh Menon confirmed the split arrangement. The Karnataka government and police cleared Chinnaswamy after last year’s temporary suspension.
Impact Player rule continues. The rule that allows teams to substitute one specialist player mid-innings stays for another season. It keeps scores high and team selection layered — and it’s now part of IPL DNA.
India just won the T20 World Cup 2026. The IPL start date announcement came just hours before India played the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad on March 8. India won the tournament. The entire country heads into IPL season already on a cricket high — and that’s going to make the atmosphere at every ground this year something special.
How to Watch IPL 2026 Live
All 84 matches will be on Star Sports Network on TV and JioHotstar for online streaming. JioHotstar requires a paid subscription starting at ₹79/month. For global viewers, check the complete IPL 2026 live streaming guide with every country’s official broadcaster listed.
Keep tracking the IPL 2026 points table from March 28 as standings update live after every match.
FAQs
When does IPL 2026 start? March 28, 2026. Confirmed by Star Sports and BCCI on March 8, 2026.
Why hasn’t the full IPL 2026 schedule been released yet? Elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are causing the delay. The BCCI is releasing the schedule in two phases. Phase 1 covers the first 15 days. Phase 2 follows once the Election Commission announces polling dates, expected around March 11.
Who plays in the IPL 2026 opening match? RCB hosts the opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on March 28. Their opponent is expected to be Punjab Kings, pending official fixture confirmation from BCCI.
How many matches are in IPL 2026? 84 total — 80 league stage matches and 4 playoff matches. This is the biggest IPL ever.
Where is the IPL 2026 final? M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on May 31, 2026.
Who are the defending champions of IPL? Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won IPL 2025, beating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the final to claim their maiden IPL title after 18 years.
