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Final IPL 2026 fixtures to be announced only after election dates are declared, with 18 venues under consideration and uncertainty over Bengaluru and Jaipur matches.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is expected to commence on March 26, with the final scheduled to be played on May 31. However, the complete match schedule is yet to be finalised, as it will be released only after the Election Commission announces polling dates for the upcoming assembly elections.
During a recent meeting of the IPL Governing Council, it was decided that the tournament schedule would be aligned with the election calendar. Assembly elections are set to take place during April and May in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Kerala, along with the Union Territory of Puducherry. With these states likely to host IPL matches, the election dates are a key factor in finalising fixtures.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has proposed up to 18 venues across the country for hosting IPL 2026 matches. Several of these locations are in election-bound states, which has added to the delay in confirming the final schedule.
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The cities under consideration include Delhi, Lucknow, Dharamsala, New Chandigarh, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Navi Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Pune, Ranchi and Raipur. These venues are spread across multiple regions to ensure smooth conduct of the tournament.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues over matches in Bengaluru and Jaipur. The IPL Governing Council has asked the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals franchises to confirm by January 27 whether their home matches can be hosted in Bengaluru and Jaipur respectively.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are exploring alternative venues due to concerns surrounding the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The stadium has not hosted any cricket-related events since a deadly stampede occurred outside the venue last year. As a result, Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium and Raipur are being considered as possible options for RCB’s home games.
With several factors still under review, the final IPL 2026 schedule is expected only after election dates are officially announced.
