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IPL 2026: Complete schedule, match timings and venue for Indian Premier League matches
TL;DR
The IPL 2026 season kicks off on March 28 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Sunrisers Hyderabad and will run until the end of May. RCB enters as the defending champions after winning their first title in 2026.
Key points
- IPL 2026 starts on March 28
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opener
- Tournament runs until the end of May
- RCB are the defending champions
Royal Challengers BengaluruSunrisers HyderabadPunjab Kings
The Indian Premier League is back with yet another exciting season in 2026, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28. The tournament will run until the end of May.
RCB enter the IPL 2026 season as defending champions after they won their maiden IPL title in 2026, beating Punjab Kings in the final.
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What is the format of IPL 2026?
A total of 10 teams will participate in IPL 2026. Each team plays the other nine in a round-robin home-and-away format, with the top four qualifying for the play-off. The top two teams in the league will compete in Qualifier 1, and the winner will make it to the final.
The third and fourth-placed teams will compete in an Eliminator. The winner of the eliminator will compete against the team that lost Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2. The winner of Qualifier 2 will then make it to the final.
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What are the IPL 2026 venues?
IPL 2026 will be played across 12 major venues in 12 Indian cities, ensuring nationwide coverage and strong local fan engagement. The confirmed venues include:
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Raipur
- Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati
- Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
- Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
- Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
What time will the IPL 2026 matches start in India?
Q&A
When does IPL 2026 start and end?
IPL 2026 starts on March 28 and runs until the end of May.
Which teams are playing the opening match of IPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match.
Who are the defending champions of IPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions after winning their maiden title in 2026.
What is the format of IPL 2026?
The specific format of IPL 2026 has not been detailed in the provided information.
