The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which will be the 19th season of the world's biggest and most-watched T20 league, has started to take shape with key dates now confirmed.
Here in this FAQ explainer,
we seek to answer all the questions on when will begin, when it will end, and what is still undecided.
When will IPL 2026 begin?
IPL 2026 will start on Thursday, March 26. The opening date was confirmed during a meeting between IPL officials and franchise representatives held in Abu Dhabi, ahead of the .
The dates were officially disclosed by IPL CEO Hemang Amin, giving teams and fans clarity on the overall tournament window.
When is the IPL 2026 final?
The IPL 2026 final is scheduled for Sunday, May 31. This means the tournament will run for a little over two months, staying in line with the traditional IPL calendar that avoids clashes with major international commitments.
Where will the IPL 2026 opening match be held?
The venue for the opening match is yet to be confirmed. Traditionally, the IPL opener is held in the city of the defending champions, which would point to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, uncertainty remains due to pending final clearance from the Karnataka state authorities.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has received conditional approval to host IPL matches, subject to meeting safety and security requirements laid down by the state government.
Why is Chinnaswamy Stadium under scrutiny?
The hesitation around granting full permission is linked to the tragic stampede incident on June 4, during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory celebrations, which resulted in 11 deaths and several injuries.
Since then, the state government has taken a cautious approach, with even international matches - including Women's World Cup fixtures - being moved out of Bengaluru.
Senior BCCI officials have expressed optimism, with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stating that the government is positive about hosting IPL matches, pending discussions with the Home Minister and KSCA officials.
Has the IPL 2026 auction list been finalised?
Yes. The BCCI has finalised the auction register, which now features 369 players following 19 late additions. A maximum of 77 players can be bought at the auction, though that number is conditional on franchises filling their complete 25-player squads.
Will overseas players be available for the full season?
The BCCI has informed franchises that most overseas players will be available for the majority of IPL 2026.
However, as reported by Cricbuzz, a few players will have limited availability due to international commitments, including Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, William Sutherland, Adam Milne and Rilee Rossouw.
What happens next?
The next major milestone is the IPL 2026 auction, which will determine squad compositions ahead of the season. A final decision on the opening match venue is also expected in the coming weeks once state clearances are completed.
For now, fans can mark their calendars - IPL 2026 begins on March 26 and concludes on May 31.
