The IPL Governing Council has approved a two-phase release of the IPL 2026 schedule. The first set of fixtures will be announced by March 6 or 7, with the rest to follow later.
Season 19 fixtures are being split because of the upcoming State Assembly elections. The BCCI is waiting for the Election Commission to confirm poll dates in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.
Due to this uncertainty, only the first 13 to 14 days of matches are likely to be announced in phase one. The remaining games will be scheduled once the election dates are clear.
Despite the delay, one big update has been confirmed. Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the opening match, one playoff, and the final of IPL 2026.
The opener is expected to be played on March 28 or 29. The final has already been fixed for May 31, giving fans a clear end date for the season.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are likely to host the opening match at home. However, their opponents for that game have not yet been finalised.
RCB will play five of their home matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season. The venue is set to be one of the main centres of action during the tournament.
The BCCI has also informed franchises that practice guidelines will be shared soon. Details about overseas players’ No Objection Certificates will also be provided.
This includes OSCA clearances from Cricket Australia and NOCs from South Africa, which are important for foreign players to take part in the league without issues.
The split schedule is not new for the IPL. In the past too, the BCCI has adjusted plans because of elections to ensure smooth conduct of matches and proper security arrangements.
With the clock ticking towards the end of March, fans are now waiting for the first list of fixtures. The full picture of IPL 2026 will become clear once the election dates are announced.