The Indian Premier League 2026 will be the 19th season of the tournament. This season will be the longest because it will feature 84 matches, up from 74. The season will run over two months and will feature 10 teams.
Moreover, the tournament follows the traditional format with a league stage followed by playoffs. (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and Final).
Also Read: Record Books Changed After the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Official Start Date of IPL 2026
The IPL 2026 is set to begin on 28 March 2026. The finale of the season will take place on 31st May 2026. The first match of the season is expected to take place at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where the defending champions will play their first match.
As per reports, the Punjab Kings can compete with RCB at the opening match because the final of the previous season was played between RCB and the Punjab Kings. Although they are all assumptions, the final schedule is not out by the officials.
Stadiums Set to Host IPL 2026 Matches
As per reports and previous hosting patterns, matches of the season will be played across various major stadiums in India. Some of the expected venues are:
- Narendra Modi Stadium: Ahmedabad
- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium: Bengaluru
- Wankhede Stadium: Mumbai
- Eden Gardens: Kolkata
- M. A. Chidambaram Stadium: Chennai
- Arun Jaitley Stadium: Delhi
- Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Hyderabad
- Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Ekana Cricket Stadium: Lucknow
- Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium: Mullanpur
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Teams Competing in the IPL 2026 Season
10 Teams are going to feature in IPL 2026:
- Chennai Super Kings
- Mumbai Indians
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Kolkata Knight Riders
- Delhi Capitals
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Rajasthan Royals
- Punjab Kings
- Gujarat Titans
- Lucknow Super Giants
Each team will play 14 league matches before the top four qualify for the playoffs.
IPL 2025 Champions
IPL 2025 was won by RCB by defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling finale. RCB won after an 18-year wait.
IPL 2026 Broadcast & Live Streaming Details
In India, IPL matches will be broadcast on the Star Sports network, while the digital streaming partner will be JioHotstar. The IPL streaming rights from 2023-2027 are valued over ₹48,390 crore (~US$6.2-6.4 billion).
IPL 2026 Ticket Booking: Sale Date, Platforms, and How to Buy
As per reports, the tickets are expected to go live a few weeks before the tournament starts. Moreover, the fans can buy tickets through:
- BookMyShow
- Paytm Insider
- Official IPL website
- Team Partner Ticketing Portals
According to the reports, prices generally start from Rs 800 to Rs 1,500 for general stands, while the premium or hospitality can go above Rs 10,000, depending on the venue and match demands. Due to a 40% GST, base prices for tickets are expected to rise, with a 1,000 INR ticket potentially costing over 1,400 INR.
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However, pre-sale registration for Mumbai Indians’ home match tickets for IPL 2026 is currently open, with general sales expected to begin around March 26, 2026.