IPL 2026 Schedule & Fixtures: Complete Match Timetable, Dates, Venues, and Timings

IPL 2026 Schedule Overview

TATA IPL 2026 is the largest edition of the Indian Premier League to date, featuring 84 matches played over 66 match days (within a 78-day window from 28 March to 3 June 2026). The BCCI announced the schedule in two phases — a practice that allows flexibility for venue logistics, broadcasting coordination, and potential weather-related adjustments.

The schedule was further complicated by an eight-day pause in May due to geopolitical tensions, resulting in a revised fixture list that pushed the tournament's conclusion from the originally planned 25 May to 3 June 2026.

For a complete overview of all teams, squads, and the auction, refer to our comprehensive IPL 2026 Complete Guide.

Key Dates at a Glance

Opening Ceremony: 28 March 2026, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

First Match: 28 March 2026 (RCB vs KKR, Bengaluru)

Phase 1 Fixtures: 28 March – 27 April 2026

Phase 2 Fixtures: 28 April – 7 May 2026

Tournament Pause: 8 May – 16 May 2026

Resumption: 17 May 2026

Last League Match: 23 May 2026

Qualifier 1: 27 May 2026

Eliminator: 28 May 2026

Qualifier 2: 30 May 2026

Final: 3 June 2026, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Phase 1 Schedule (28 March – 27 April)

The BCCI released Phase 1 of the IPL 2026 fixtures first, covering approximately the first 30 matches. The opening match features defending champions RCB hosting KKR at the Chinnaswamy Stadium — a marquee fixture designed to set the tone for the season.

Phase 1 includes several high-profile encounters: the MI vs CSK rivalry (the "El Clasico of IPL"), RCB's title defense opening salvo, and the debut of several high-profile auction acquisitions including Cameron Green for KKR.

Key Phase 1 matchups include CSK vs MI at Wankhede (one of the most-watched fixtures annually), RR vs PBKS (both teams in strong form from 2025), and DC vs SRH — Pat Cummins' first match as SRH captain against his former Delhi teammates.

Phase 2 Schedule (28 April – 18 May)

Phase 2 covers the business end of the league stage, where playoff qualification battles intensify. These fixtures were announced approximately two weeks after Phase 1, giving the BCCI time to optimize scheduling based on early-season attendance patterns and broadcaster feedback.

The latter portion of the league stage traditionally produces the most dramatic cricket — teams fighting for the fourth playoff spot, NRR calculations becoming decisive, and dead-rubber matches being used to blood young talent.

The May Pause — What Happened

On 8 May 2026, the BCCI suspended IPL 2026 indefinitely following rising India-Pakistan tensions after the Pahalgam attack on tourists. This unprecedented pause lasted eight days, with matches originally scheduled between 8–16 May being postponed.

The decision affected approximately 10 league-stage matches and raised questions about the tournament's completion timeline. The BCCI worked with broadcasters and franchise owners to develop a revised schedule that maintained the integrity of the competition while accommodating the lost days.

Revised Schedule (17 May Onwards)

The tournament resumed on 17 May with a compressed schedule. The remaining league-stage matches were packed into tighter windows with more double-headers. The BCCI confirmed that the final would move from 25 May to 3 June 2026, giving teams adequate rest between the compressed league stage and playoffs.

The revised schedule maintained all originally planned fixtures — no matches were cancelled. Teams that had momentum before the pause faced the challenge of re-building rhythm, while teams that were struggling had an unexpected opportunity to regroup.

Playoff Schedule & Final

The IPL 2026 playoffs follow the standard page-system format that has been used since 2011:

Qualifier 1 (27 May): Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — The winner advances directly to the final. PBKS entered as the table-toppers, while RCB's defending champions status adds pressure.

Eliminator (28 May): Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans — A sudden-death encounter between two of the league's most consistently competitive franchises. The loser is eliminated.

Qualifier 2 (30 May): Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator — The second route to the final.

Final (3 June): M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru — The season culminates at the home ground of the defending champions. The Chinnaswamy's reputation as a batting paradise and its electric atmosphere make it one of the most coveted final venues in world cricket.

Venue-Wise Match Distribution

IPL 2026 matches are distributed across India's premier cricket stadiums. The major venues and their approximate fixture counts include:

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai — 10 matches (MI home)

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai — 8 matches (CSK home)

Eden Gardens, Kolkata — 8 matches (KKR home)

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — 8 matches (GT home, plus playoffs)

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru — 7 matches (5 RCB home + playoffs/final)

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad — 7 matches (SRH home)

Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi — 7 matches (DC home)

BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Lucknow — 7 matches (LSG home)

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur — 7 matches (RR home)

IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali — 5 matches (PBKS home)

Additional venues: HPCA Dharamshala, ACA-VDCA Visakhapatnam, Barsapara Guwahati, Raipur

Match Timings & Double Headers

All IPL 2026 matches are scheduled in one of two time slots:

Afternoon matches: 3:30 PM IST (10:00 AM GMT / 6:00 AM EST)

Evening matches: 7:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EST)

Double-headers (two matches in one day) are scheduled primarily on Saturdays and Sundays, with occasional mid-week double-headers during the compressed post-pause schedule. During double-header days, the afternoon match typically starts at 3:30 PM IST and the evening match at 7:30 PM IST.

Broadcast Schedule & Where to Watch

India TV: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Sports 1 Kannada

India Streaming: JioHotstar — free tier available with basic quality; premium subscription for 4K

International: Willow TV (USA/Canada), Sky Sports Cricket (UK), SuperSport (Sub-Saharan Africa), Kayo Sports (Australia)

Pre-match coverage typically begins 30 minutes before the scheduled start time on Star Sports, with post-match analysis running 30-45 minutes after the conclusion of play.

For real-time live scores during every match, use our SixerPulse Live Scores page with ball-by-ball updates.

Tips for Following the Schedule

Bookmark this page — We update the schedule whenever the BCCI announces changes or revisions.

Set timezone alerts — If you're outside India, convert IST to your local time. The evening slot (7:30 PM IST) works well for UK afternoon viewing (2:00 PM GMT) but is early morning in the Americas.

Follow team-specific schedules — Each team plays 14 league matches. If you're following a specific franchise, our IPL hub provides team-filtered fixture views.

Track playoff scenarios — The points table becomes crucial from match 50 onwards. Teams with favourable NRR can afford to lose a game; others need consecutive wins. Our rankings and points table page tracks qualification probabilities.

Schedule FAQ

What time do IPL 2026 matches start?

Afternoon matches start at 3:30 PM IST, evening matches at 7:30 PM IST.

How many matches are in IPL 2026?

84 total — 70 league-stage matches, 3 playoff matches (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2), and the Final.

When is the IPL 2026 final?

3 June 2026 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (revised from 25 May due to the tournament pause).

Will there be double-header days?

Yes, primarily on weekends. The post-pause compressed schedule also includes additional mid-week double-headers.

Where can I get tickets for IPL 2026?

Tickets are available through the official IPL website (iplt20.com), franchise portals, BookMyShow, and Paytm Insider. Prices vary by venue and seating category.