IPL 2026 set for March 28 start, full schedule to be unveiled in two phases

The Indian Premier League is set to return with its 19th edition on March 28, 2026, with the tournament schedule expected to be released in two phases. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to adopt a staggered schedule announcement due to logistical challenges linked to upcoming state assembly elections.

According to reports, the first phase of the IPL 2026 fixtures is likely to be officially unveiled on March 9 at 6 PM IST. Fans were initially expecting the announcement on March 8, but the release was delayed by 24 hours. When the schedule is revealed, it is expected to cover only the opening 15 to 20 days of the tournament, roughly from March 28 to mid-April.

The decision to split the schedule into two phases was taken during an online meeting of the IPL Governing Council earlier this week. The first set of fixtures is expected to include approximately the opening 13 TO 14 days of the competition, with the remaining matches to be announced later once logistical clarity improves.

The season opener is expected to take place at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. As per IPL tradition, the defending champions host the first match of the season, which means the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are likely to begin the tournament at home. Reports suggest that their opponent for the opening game could be the 2025 runners-up, Punjab Kings, although an official confirmation is still awaited.

RCB to play five games at Chinnaswamy Stadium

RCB have already confirmed that they will play five home matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Their remaining two home games are expected to be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium. Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary Santosh Menon has also confirmed that the Bengaluru venue will host one playoff match as well as the tournament final.

The IPL 2026 final has already been scheduled for May 31, giving the tournament a two-month window. However, the delay in releasing the complete fixture list is largely due to the upcoming assembly elections in several states, including West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu. Since polling dates are yet to be finalised by the Election Commission, the BCCI has opted to release the schedule in parts to ensure that match venues and security arrangements do not clash with election duties.

Cities like Kolkata and Chennai, home bases of the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, are among the regions where election scheduling could impact match planning. Meanwhile, Guwahati, which serves as a secondary home venue for the Rajasthan Royals, is also located in a state heading for polls.

A similar strategy was adopted earlier during election years. In 2024, the BCCI initially released only the first two weeks of the IPL schedule before announcing the remainder after the election calendar was finalised.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has begun operational preparations for the upcoming season. Acting CEO and IPL COO Hemang Amin recently informed franchises that practice session guidelines will be shared soon. Teams have also been told that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for overseas players will be issued collectively in the coming days.