IPL 2026 Full Schedule, Fixtures & Timetable: All You Need to Know (Dates, Teams, Venues)

IPL 2026 Full Schedule, Fixtures & Complete Guide — TATA IPL 19

The wait is almost over. Cricket's biggest party is back, and this time it arrives on the back of India's T20 World Cup triumph — making the mood across the country electric. Here is everything you need to know about IPL 2026: schedule, teams, squads, venues, and how to watch.

IPL 2026 Start Date & Schedule Overview

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and official broadcaster Star Sports have confirmed that TATA IPL 2026 will officially commence on Saturday, 28 March. The announcement was made on March 8, just hours before the T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Clinevotech

The tournament will feature 10 teams competing in 84 matches from 28 March to 31 May 2026. It will be held across India, with Bengaluru hosting the opening ceremony, Qualifier 1, and the IPL 2026 Final. AccuKnox

Schedule Update: The complete match-by-match fixture list is expected to be released by BCCI on March 9, 2026. This page will be updated live the moment the full schedule drops. Bookmark this page and check back shortly.

The first set of fixtures is likely to cover approximately the opening 15 days. The remaining fixtures, including the knockout stages, will be announced once the Election Commission of India confirms polling dates for relevant states — a strategy mirroring the approach used during IPL 2024.

Key Venues for IPL 2026

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been confirmed as the primary hub for the season. In addition to the opening ceremony and the first match, the venue is scheduled to host Qualifier 1 and the IPL 2026 Final on 31 May. RCB will play five of their home matches in Bengaluru, while their remaining two "home" fixtures will be moved to the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.

A total of 18 venues have been proposed across India for the season.

All 10 Teams — IPL 2026

The ten teams participating in IPL 2026 are divided into two groups: Group A — Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings; Group B — Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, and Punjab Kings.

Big Transfers & Storylines Heading Into IPL 2026

The biggest trade of the IPL 2026 season saw CSK acquire Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran — a blockbuster deal that reshuffled the balance of power across multiple franchises. Yahoo Finance

At the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi in December, Cameron Green went to KKR for a record ₹25.2 crore, becoming the most expensive overseas buy in IPL history. Matheesha Pathirana joined KKR for ₹18 crore, while CSK made waves by signing uncapped Indian talents Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma at ₹14.2 crore each.

Defending champions RCB retained 17 players from their title-winning squad, including Virat Kohli. Mohammed Shami moved from SRH to LSG via an all-cash trade, while Shardul Thakur moved from LSG to MI for Arjun Tendulkar.

IPL 2026 Live Streaming & Broadcast

Star Sports Network will live telecast IPL 2026 matches in India. JioHotstar will live stream all IPL 2026 matches digitally in India.

Match timings for weekday games are expected to be at 7:30 PM IST, with double-header weekends at 3:30 PM IST and 7:30 PM IST.

Quick Facts: IPL 2026 at a Glance

The Opener: RCB vs SRH, March 28, Bengaluru

Defending champions RCB face SRH in Bengaluru to kick off IPL 2026. RCB strengthened their squad with smart signings including Phil Salt, Venkatesh Iyer, Josh Hazlewood, and Krunal Pandya, as they aim to defend their maiden title won in IPL 2025. Angel One

Phase 1 Full Match Schedule (From Image)