IPL to kick off on March 28 in Bengaluru; final on May 31

Mumbai: IPL-2026, will kick off on March 28 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, with the final to be held on May 31. As per the IPL tradition, the opening match will feature defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, even as it remains to be seen who their opponents will be in that game."Yes, IPL-2026 will begin on March 28 in Bengaluru, and the final will be held on May 31," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told TOI on Wednesday. "The schedule of the first 20 days of IPL-2026 will be announced soon (in a day or two), while the schedule of the rest of the IPL schedule will be announced after the Election Commission of India announces the dates for elections," Saikia informed.

In previous election years too-in 2009, 2024, 2019 and 2024- the BCCI had released the fixtures in two phases. A day before (on Dec 15) the IPL auction last year, the IPL GC had informed the franchises that the 2026 edition would start on March 26, but it was decided to change the start date to March 28 and have the final on May 31.