Big News: IPL 2026 to kick off on March 28, final to be held on May 31

The wait is over as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is all set to kick off on March 28. Sports Tak has learnt that earlier it was supposed to get underway by March 26 but now it should start by March 28. Although franchises were initially told on December 15. Under this updated plan, the IPL 2026 final is scheduled to be played on May 31.

IPL 2026 to start from March 28

The IPL Governing Council is scheduled to meet next week to finalise the schedule, which has been held up by pending election dates. Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu have yet to be announced, creating logistical uncertainty for key venues. This directly impacts the home grounds for the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, as well as Guwahati, which serves as a secondary home for the Rajasthan Royals.

IPL 2026 final slated for May 31

Historically, the IPL has released its schedule in two parts whenever general or state elections coincide with the tournament, a strategy seen in 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024. The Governing Council must now decide whether to stick to this staggered release approach or wait for the Election Commission of India to provide the full polling calendar for the three affected states before committing to a complete fixture list.

A significant point of discussion for the upcoming meeting is the location of the opening match featuring the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Following a tragic stampede during RCB’s title celebrations last June at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which resulted in 11 fatalities, the team’s home base remains uncertain. RCB is currently in talks with the Karnataka State Cricket Association to determine if their seven home games can safely remain in Bengaluru or if they must be relocated. As a precaution, the franchise has already begun scouting potential alternative venues.