he Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is expected to be the biggest season in the tournament’s history, with 84 matches scheduled instead of the usual 74. Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the new season as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the champions of IPL 2025, will aim to defend their title.
The tournament will feature 10 teams competing across multiple venues in India, bringing together top international and domestic cricketers.
IPL 2026 Start Date
The IPL 2026 season is expected to begin in March 2026 and run until May 2026.
The tournament will follow the traditional IPL window during the Indian summer.
- Start Date: March 2026
- Final Match: May 2026
- Total Matches: 84
- Participating Teams: 10
The increase in matches makes IPL 2026 the largest edition in the league’s history.
IPL 2026 Match Schedule
The complete match-by-match schedule will be released by the organizers before the start of the tournament. However, the tournament will follow the standard IPL format:
| Date | Match | Start time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, Saturday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 PM | Bengaluru* |
| March 29, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 7:30 PM | Mumbai |
| March 30, Monday | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM | Guwahati |
| March 31, Tuesday | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 PM | Mullanpur |
| April 1, Wednesday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Lucknow |
| April 2, Thursday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| April 3, Friday | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM | Chennai |
| April 4, Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | 3:30 PM | Delhi |
| April 4, Saturday | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM | Ahmedabad |
| April 5, Sunday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | 3:30 PM | Hyderabad |
| April 5, Sunday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM | Bengaluru |
| April 6, Monday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| April 7, Tuesday | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Guwahati |
| April 8, Wednesday | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | 7:30 PM | Delhi |
| April 9, Thursday | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| April 10, Friday | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Guwahati |
| April 11, Saturday | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3:30 PM | Mullanpur |
| April 11, Saturday | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Chennai |
| April 12, Sunday | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | 3:30 PM | Lucknow |
| April 12, Sunday | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Mumbai |
- League Stage: All teams play multiple matches against other teams.
- Playoffs: Top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
- Final: The winners of the playoffs compete for the IPL trophy.
The playoffs will include:
- Qualifier 1
- Eliminator
- Qualifier 2
- Final
IPL 2026 Venues
IPL matches will be held across several major cricket stadiums in India. Expected venues include:
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Ahmedabad
- Jaipur
- Lucknow
- Mohali
- Dharamshala
- Guwahati
These venues host matches for the respective home teams during the league stage.
IPL 2026 Teams
Ten teams will participate in IPL 2026:
- Chennai Super Kings
- Mumbai Indians
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Kolkata Knight Riders
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Delhi Capitals
- Rajasthan Royals
- Punjab Kings
- Lucknow Super Giants
- Gujarat Titans
Each team will play multiple league matches before the playoffs begin.
IPL 2025 Champion
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025 title after defeating Punjab Kings in the final. With the confidence from their championship win, RCB will look to continue their strong performance in IPL 2026.
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