IPL 2026 Schedule: Date, Timings and Venues Announced

Cricket fans across India are eagerly waiting for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. This edition is set to be the largest in the tournament’s history, with 84 matches planned instead of the usual 74. The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will enter the competition hoping to carry forward the momentum from their successful 2025 campaign.

Fans were wondering when will IPL 2026 start, and that has been confirmed by broadcaster Star Sports on Sunday, March 8, 2026, that the tournament is scheduled to begin on March 28, with RCB aiming to defend the title. The IPL playoffs are expected to begin on May 26, 2026, with Bengaluru set to host Qualifier 1 and the final, which will take place on May 31, 2026, at one of the oldest cricket stadiums in India.

Meanwhile, the other playoff fixtures, including the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, are likely to be organised in Ahmedabad and Raipur, although the official confirmation regarding these venues is still pending.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to release the IPL schedule in two stages because of the Assembly Elections in West Bengal and Assam. Initially, the board will reveal the fixtures for the first 20 matches of the tournament, while the remaining schedule will be announced later once the election dates are officially confirmed.

IPL 2026 Schedule

As per Express Sports, the Indian Premier League 2026 schedule for the first phase has been announced, with 10 teams set to clash for 80 league matches and 4 playoff encounters, making it the largest in the history of the tournament. However, only the schedule of the first 20 matches has been released, keeping the state elections in mind.