The Governing Council of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has formally approved the first half of the schedule for the 2026 season. Following an online meeting held on March 2, the council decided to release the Season 19 fixtures in two distinct phases. This staggered announcement strategy is largely due to the pending dates for assembly elections in key states such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. Fans can expect the first set of fixtures to be officially unveiled by March 6 or 7.
IPL 2026 to be staged in two phases
In a major update for local fans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) confirmed on March 3 that they will return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for five of their home games. Consequently, the iconic Bengaluru venue is expected to host the season opener, upholding the league's tradition where the defending champions kick off the tournament at their home ground. Beyond the curtain-raiser, the Karnataka State Cricket Association has also confirmed that the stadium will serve as the backdrop for both a playoff match and the grand final.
ALSO READ: Team India's practice session for T20 World Cup semifinal delayed due to this big reason
IPL 2026 to kick off from March 28
While RCB’s opening opponent is still being finalized, the start date for the tournament has seen a slight adjustment. According to recent reports, the season is now likely to begin on March 28 or 29, a short delay from the initially planned date. Despite this shift at the start, the tournament remains on track to conclude with the final on May 31.
The BCCI, through acting CEO and IPL COO Hemang Amin, recently updated franchises on several key administrative timelines. Guidelines for team practice sessions are expected to be shared next week, along with the process for securing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for international players. For Australian cricketers, the league is awaiting the Occupation Standards Classification (OSCA) from Cricket Australia, while individual NOCs will be collected from South Africa. Once these documents are gathered, franchises are required to submit them to the BCCI in a single consolidated email.
ALSO READ: Sam Curran wants 'quiet' outing for India's biggest danger man in IND vs ENG T20 World Cup semifinal
The release of the full IPL 2026 schedule remains on hold as the league awaits the Election Commission of India’s announcement regarding assembly poll dates in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu. With the election schedule still unconfirmed and the season likely to begin in late March, the BCCI has decided to follow its historical precedent of releasing the fixtures in two phases. The first phase is expected to cover approximately the first two weeks of the tournament.
Franchises have also been informed that details for the traditional pre-tournament captains' meeting will be provided by next week. Despite the logistical challenges posed by the overlapping political calendar, the league is moving forward with its internal preparations to ensure a smooth transition from the ongoing T20 World Cup into the domestic season.