IPL 2026 Schedule Phase 1: Fixtures, Venues & Match List
| Key clashes: RCB vs CSK (Apr 5) & MI vs RCB (Apr 12) | Final: May 31, Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru 
| Full schedule & match previews at allcric.comWhen does IPL 2026 start — and who plays in the very first match of the season?
The IPL 2026 schedule will begin on March 28, 2026, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the opening match of the season.
The BCCI has officially announced the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule, and it is packed with storylines from the very first ball. The tournament has expanded to a record 84 matches, and a famous Indian ground has returned to the IPL stage after one of the most heartbreaking events in Indian cricket’s recent memory.
In this complete guide, AllCric breaks down everything you need to know about the IPL 2026 schedule: every confirmed fixture, all venues, the key matches to circle, and what the fixture list means for every team competing for the title — especially when you look at the IPL 2026 team rankings from weakest to strongest heading into the season.
IPL 2026 Quick Facts
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| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Start Date | March 28, 2026 |
| Final Date | May 31, 2026 |
| Opening Match | RCB vs SRH — Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
| Total Matches | 84 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Defending Champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Final Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
IPL 2026 Full Schedule — Phase 1 Fixtures
Day matches: 3:30 PM IST | Evening matches: 7:30 PM IST
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| Match No. | Date | Day | Fixture | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 28 | Sat | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | Mar 29 | Sun | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 3 | Mar 30 | Mon | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | Mar 31 | Tue | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | New Chandigarh Stadium | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | Apr 1 | Wed | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | Apr 2 | Thu | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | Apr 3 | Fri | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | Apr 4 | Sat | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| 9 | Apr 4 | Sat | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | Apr 5 | Sun | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| 11 | Apr 5 | Sun | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | Apr 6 | Mon | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | Apr 7 | Tue | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | Apr 8 | Wed | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | Apr 9 | Thu | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | Apr 10 | Fri | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati | 3:30 PM |
| 17 | Apr 10 | Fri | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | New Chandigarh Stadium | 7:30 PM |
| 18 | Apr 11 | Sat | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 3:30 PM |
| 19 | Apr 11 | Sat | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 20 | Apr 12 | Sun | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Phase 2 (Matches 21–84) is pending BCCI release. AllCric will update this page the moment the full schedule drops.
IPL 2026 Playoff and Final Dates
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| Round | Estimated Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | ~May 20–21 | TBC |
| Eliminator | ~May 22–23 | TBC |
| Qualifier 2 | ~May 25–26 | TBC |
| Final | May 31, 2026 | Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
3 Matches to Watch in Phase 1
Match 1 — RCB vs SRH, March 28, Bengaluru
The Chinnaswamy Stadium returns to IPL cricket for the first time since the tragic 2025 victory parade stampede. The stadium has been cleared after safety upgrades and will operate at a reduced capacity of 35,000. A deeply emotional occasion for Indian cricket.
Match 11 — RCB vs CSK, April 5, Bengaluru
Two of the IPL’s biggest fanbases, defending champions against perennial contenders, and a fixture that often features some of the players with the most sixes in IPL history.
Match 20 — MI vs RCB, April 12, Mumbai
The IPL’s biggest fixture by viewership. Five-time champions versus defending champions, at the Wankhede. This is the game that usually sets the tone for the second half of the group stage.
Why Was the Schedule Released in Two Phases?
The BCCI delayed the full IPL 2026 schedule due to state assembly elections in three key states — Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. These states host three IPL franchises (KKR, CSK, and RR’s secondary venue in Guwahati), and election commission guidelines restrict large public gatherings during active polling windows. Phase 2 will be released once the election calendar is finalised.
Follow IPL 2026 on AllCric
Get live scores, match predictions, fantasy tips and post-match analysis for every game in the IPL 2026 schedule — only on allcric.com.
- Live ball-by-ball scores
- Pre-match predictions and likely best playing XI combinations for IPL 2026
- Fantasy cricket tips for every fixture
- Download the AllCric app for match alerts
Bookmark this page — AllCric updates this schedule live as Phase 2 fixtures are confirmed.
FAQs
The IPL 2026 final is on May 31, 2026. It will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru — the same venue that hosts the opening match.
IPL 2026 has a total of 84 matches, making it the largest edition in the tournament’s history. This is 10 more matches than IPL 2025.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the defending IPL champions, having won the IPL 2025 title. It is their first ever IPL title.
10 teams are competing in IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants.
IPL 2026 follows a double round-robin group stage format where each of the 10 teams plays 14 matches
The post IPL 2026 Schedule Phase 1: Fixtures, Venues & Match List first appeared on AllCric.
