The IPL 2026 Schedule is the ultimate blueprint for what is officially the largest season in Indian Premier League history. With the BCCI confirming a record-breaking 84-match marathon, the 19th edition is set to push the boundaries of T20 cricket.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by Rajat Patidar, will open the festivities on March 28, 2026, at their iconic home, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Here is everything you need to know about IPL 2026, from the schedule and venues to team captains and broadcast details.
IPL 2026 Key Dates
The full 84-match schedule is being released in two phases. This is due to the 2026 Assembly Elections in states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| IPL 2026 Start Date | March 28, 2026 | Opening match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| League Stage End | May 24, 2026 | 80 league matches in total |
| Playoffs Start | May 26, 2026 | Qualifier 1 in Bengaluru |
| IPL 2026 Final | May 31, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
IPL 2026 Schedule
The BCCI has officially announced the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule. Due to upcoming state assembly elections, the schedule has been released in parts, with the initial phase covering the first 20 matches from March 28 to April 12, 2026.
| Match No | Date | Matches | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Mar | RCB vs. SRH | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | 29 Mar | MI vs. KKR | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | 30 Mar | RR vs. CSK | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | 31 Mar | PBKS vs. GT | Mullanpur | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | 1 Apr | LSG vs. DC | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | 2 Apr | KKR vs. SRH | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | 3 Apr | CSK vs. PBKS | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | 4 Apr | DC vs. MI | Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 9 | 4 Apr | GT vs. RR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | 5 Apr | SRH vs. LSG | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 11 | 5 Apr | RCB vs. CSK | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | 6 Apr | KKR vs. PBKS | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | 7 Apr | RR vs. MI | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | 8 Apr | DC vs. GT | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | 9 Apr | KKR vs. LSG | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | 10 Apr | RR vs. RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | 11 Apr | PBKS vs. SRH | Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
| 18 | 11 Apr | CSK vs. DC | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 19 | 12 Apr | LSG vs. GT | Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| 20 | 12 Apr | MI vs. RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Tournament Format
IPL 2026 runs for 64 days across a double round-robin format, with 84 matches in total.
| Format Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Format Type | Double round-robin |
| Each Team Plays | Every other team twice, once at home and once away |
| Tournament Window | 64 days |
| Total League Matches | 80 |
| Total Playoff Matches | 4 |
| Total Matches | 84 |
| Weekend Double-Headers | At least two every weekend |
| Double-Header Timings | 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM IST |
| Replay System | Smart Replay System across all 18 venues |
Satellite Stadiums
One notable change in 2026 is the use of satellite venues. RCB will play five home games in Bengaluru and two at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur.
Rajasthan Royals will play three matches in Guwahati, marking a significant nod to Riyan Parag’s captaincy and his home state of Assam.
IPL 2026 Team Captains
The 2026 Mega-Auction brought major changes to squad compositions and team leadership.
| Team | Captain | Key Update |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar | Defending champions, Virat Kohli, remain as the senior anchor |
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Back as a full-time captain after the 2025 injury return |
| Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya | Retained leadership despite off-season trade rumours |
| Punjab Kings | Shreyas Iyer | Joined via Mega-Auction |
| Rajasthan Royals | Riyan Parag | Youngest-ever RR captain; succeeded Sanju Samson |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Ajinkya Rahane | Appointed for stability after Iyer’s departure |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Rishabh Pant | Retained as captain |
| Gujarat Titans | Shubman Gill | Continues after two successful seasons |
| Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel | Leading DC following the 2026 reshuffle |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pat Cummins | Retained as captain |
How to Watch IPL 2026
JioHotstar is the exclusive streaming home of IPL 2026, following the merger of JioCinema and Hotstar.
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| India (Streaming) | JioHotstar |
| India (TV) | Star Sports Network |
| USA | Willow TV / Sling |
| UK | Sky Sports Cricket |
| Australia | Fox Sports |
IPL 2026 Venues
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru hosts the opener, Qualifier 1, and the final on May 31.
| Team | Home Ground |
|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Delhi Capitals | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Gujarat Titans | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Lucknow Super Giants | BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Lucknow |
| Mumbai Indians | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Punjab Kings | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Mullanpur |
| Rajasthan Royals | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
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Conclusion: IPL 2026 Starts March 28 With 84 Matches
IPL 2026 is the biggest edition of the league so far. With 84 matches, a 64-day window, and a double round-robin format, the season is built for more cricket than ever before.
New captains like Riyan Parag, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane bring fresh storylines to follow. Defending champions RCB open the tournament on March 28 and will look to retain the title at their home ground on May 31.
The shift to JioHotstar changes how fans stream matches in India. Mark the dates, confirm your broadcast access, and get ready for the season.
FAQs
IPL 2026 begins on March 28, 2026, with the opening match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions, having won their maiden IPL title in 2025.
IPL 2026 has 84 matches in total, comprising 80 league stage games and 4 playoff matches.
Live streaming is available on JioHotstar. TV coverage is on the Star Sports Network.
Riyan Parag is the tournament’s youngest captain, leading the Rajasthan Royals.
The final is scheduled for May 31, 2026, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
