IPL 2026 to Begin on March 26, Season Finale Scheduled for May 31
19th Edition of Indian Premier League to Follow T20 World Cup, Overlap With PSL
India, Dec 16 : The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to take place from March 26 to May 31, 2026, maintaining its traditional slot in the cricket calendar. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to release the full fixture list, sources indicate the tournament will start around three weeks after the T20 World Cup, set from February 7 to March 8 across India and Sri Lanka. The season will conclude at the end of May.
Notably, IPL 2026 will overlap with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the second consecutive year, with the PSL scheduled from March 26 to May 3.
Preparations for the IPL are already underway as franchises gear up for the player auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. A total of 369 players have been shortlisted for 77 slots, including 31 reserved for overseas players. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the most vacancies at 13, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad with ten. After trades and player retentions, KKR hold the largest remaining purse at INR 64.30 crore, while Chennai Super Kings have INR 43.40 crore available.
The previous season, IPL 2025, was initially scheduled from March 22 to May 25 but faced a temporary suspension on May 9 due to escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. The tournament resumed on May 15 and concluded on June 3, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru claiming the title after a six-run victory over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad.
The 2025 final celebrations were overshadowed by a tragedy when a stampede-like situation outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in 11 fatalities. A subsequent inquiry declared the stadium unfit to host large-scale events, prompting authorities to review safety measures ahead of IPL 2026.
