IPL 2026 dates confirmed: Season to run from March 26 to May 31; Chinnaswamy opener in doubt

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is scheduled to take place between March 26 and May 31. While the season dates are now set, the venue for the opening match remains uncertain. Franchise representatives recently met in Abu Dhabi where they finalized the schedule.

The IPL mini-auction is scheduled for Tuesday, featuring 359 players. All franchises will be looking to fill their remaining slots. There are 77 total slots available, 31 of which can be filled with overseas players. The Kolkata Knight Riders have the most vacancies to fill with 13, while Sunrisers Hyderabad has 10.

Traditionally, the defending champion's home city hosts the first game. This year, that would mean the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru would host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. government clearance for the venue is still pending, creating uncertainty. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has received conditional clearance, but must meet strict safety and security requirements following a tragic stampede during RCB's title celebrations last June.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the opening match venue, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has publicly expressed optimism about hosting IPL matches in Bengaluru. He stated that the government is working with KSCA to address any outstanding concerns.

Ahead of Tuesday's auction, the BCCI added 19 players to the pool, including Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ben Sears, and Ethan Bosch. All eyes will be on marquee players like Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone, and Ravi Bishnoi, with Green expected to attract significant bids due to high demand for seam-bowling all-rounders.