IPL 2026 Schedule
IPL 2026 Schedule Released: Phase 1 Fixtures, Venues and When Phase 2 Drops
Mar. 11, 2026
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Read time: 6 min
The IPL 2026 schedule was officially released by the BCCI on March 11, 2026. The first phase covers 20 matches across 10 venues, running from March 28 to April 12. The full 74-match calendar is being released in two phases because state assembly elections in three Indian states overlap with the tournament window.
This article breaks down every Phase 1 fixture, explains why the schedule is phased, and tells you exactly when to expect the complete IPL 2026 schedule.
Quick Overview: IPL 2026 starts on March 28, 2026, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru at 7:30 PM IST. Phase 1 runs 20 matches through April 12. The BCCI will release Phase 2 of the IPL 2026 schedule after the Election Commission of India declares assembly poll dates for three states.
The 10 venues in Phase 1 are Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. Afternoon matches on double-header days start at 3:30 PM IST. All evening matches begin at 7:30 PM IST.
Source: BCCI Media Advisory, March 11, 2026. DH = Double-header day. All times in IST.
Sources: BCCI Media Advisory, March 11, 2026, issued by Devajit Saikia (Honorary Secretary, BCCI), and the official TATA IPL 2026 schedule published at iplt20.com. Bengaluru fixtures are subject to clearance from the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka. The BCCI reserves the right to modify the schedule at its sole discretion.
IPL 2026 Phase 1 at a Glance
Phase 1 packs 20 matches into 16 days across all 10 IPL teams.| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Total matches | 20 |
| Venues | 10 |
| Double-header days | 4 |
| Days of cricket | 16 |
Full IPL 2026 Phase 1 Match Schedule
All 20 Phase 1 fixtures are listed below. Double-header days are marked with (DH).| # | Date | Day | Home | Away | Venue | Time IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 28 Mar | Sat | RCB | SRH | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 02 | 29 Mar | Sun | MI | KKR | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 03 | 30 Mar | Mon | RR | CSK | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 04 | 31 Mar | Tue | PBKS | GT | New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| 05 | 1 Apr | Wed | LSG | DC | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| 06 | 2 Apr | Thu | KKR | SRH | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 07 | 3 Apr | Fri | CSK | PBKS | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 08 | 4 Apr | Sat | DC | MI | Delhi | 3:30 PM (DH) |
| 09 | 4 Apr | Sat | GT | RR | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM (DH) |
| 10 | 5 Apr | Sun | SRH | LSG | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM (DH) |
| 11 | 5 Apr | Sun | RCB | CSK | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM (DH) |
| 12 | 6 Apr | Mon | KKR | PBKS | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | 7 Apr | Tue | RR | MI | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | 8 Apr | Wed | DC | GT | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | 9 Apr | Thu | KKR | LSG | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | 10 Apr | Fri | RR | RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | 11 Apr | Sat | PBKS | SRH | New Chandigarh | 3:30 PM (DH) |
| 18 | 11 Apr | Sat | CSK | DC | Chennai | 7:30 PM (DH) |
| 19 | 12 Apr | Sun | LSG | GT | Lucknow | 3:30 PM (DH) |
| 20 | 12 Apr | Sun | MI | RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM (DH) |
Why Is the IPL 2026 Schedule Released in Phases?
The BCCI is releasing the IPL 2026 schedule in two phases because of state assembly elections in India. Three Indian states are holding Assembly elections during the IPL 2026 window. Under Indian election law, large public events at major stadiums in poll-bound states are restricted until the Election Commission of India officially announces voting dates. Until those dates are declared, the BCCI cannot confirm venue availability for the affected cities. The official BCCI statement from Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia reads: "As three states are scheduled to undergo State Assembly elections during this period, the full schedule of the tournament will be announced once the poll dates are announced." This approach is not unusual for the IPL. Previous editions have adjusted fixtures around national and state elections. The difference in 2026 is that only the schedule announcement is phased. The tournament itself runs in one continuous block without any geographic relocation.Which Teams Have Split Home Venues in IPL 2026?
Three franchises are playing home matches at two different venues this season:- Royal Challengers Bengaluru play 5 home matches in Bengaluru and 2 in Raipur
- Punjab Kings play 4 home matches in New Chandigarh and 3 in Dharamshala
- Rajasthan Royals play 3 home matches in Guwahati and 4 in Jaipur
When Will the IPL 2026 Phase 2 Schedule Be Released?
The BCCI will release Phase 2 of the IPL 2026 schedule after the Election Commission of India announces official poll dates for the three states holding elections. There is no confirmed release date yet. The ECI typically declares election schedules several weeks before voting begins. Given that the IPL window extends into May 2026, the Phase 2 announcement is expected in April, before Phase 1 concludes.The Three-Step IPL 2026 Schedule Rollout
Step 1: Phase 1 Released (Done) Matches 1 to 20, covering March 28 to April 12, 2026. Published by BCCI on March 11, 2026. Step 2: ECI Poll Date Announcement (Pending) The Election Commission must declare assembly election dates for three states. This is the only external dependency holding back the full schedule. Step 3: Phase 2 Released (Pending) Matches 21 to 74 plus playoffs, including Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2, Eliminator, and the IPL 2026 Final. Venue confirmations for poll-affected states will be included.Key Team and Venue Facts for IPL 2026
The Opening Match
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru open the season as the home team, hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28 at 7:30 PM IST. It is the first time in IPL history that RCB begin a season as defending champions.First Double-Header of the Season
The first double-header falls on April 4. Delhi Capitals face Mumbai Indians at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi at 3:30 PM, while Gujarat Titans host Rajasthan Royals at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad at 7:30 PM.Rajasthan Royals Home Matches in Guwahati
Rajasthan Royals are using Guwahati as their Phase 1 home base, hosting Chennai Super Kings on March 30 (Match 3) and Mumbai Indians on April 7 (Match 13). Their Jaipur home matches are part of Phase 2.Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh
PBKS play both Phase 1 home matches at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, hosting Gujarat Titans on March 31 (Match 4) and Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 11 (Match 17).What Developers Building on IPL Data Need to Know
A phased schedule release changes how you should build IPL data pipelines. Fixture data is not final and may change. Here is what to account for:- Venue fields are mutable. Bengaluru matches are pending stadium clearance. Any system caching venue data should treat it as provisional until officially confirmed.
- Phase 2 fixtures do not exist yet. Pre-seeding match IDs for the full season will fail. Build ingestion logic that handles incremental schedule additions.
- Home venue splits are permanent for 2026. Three teams play at two different home grounds this season. Venue-to-team mapping tables need updating.
- Double-header days need distinct handling. April 4, 5, 11, and 12 each have two simultaneous matches. Systems that index by date alone will produce collisions.
Frequently Asked Questions About IPL 2026 Schedule
Why is the IPL 2026 schedule released in two phases? Three Indian states are holding Assembly elections during the IPL 2026 period. Indian election law restricts large public events in poll-bound states until the Election Commission announces official voting dates. BCCI released Phase 1 for confirmed venues and will publish the rest once poll dates are declared. When does IPL 2026 start? IPL 2026 starts on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru at 7:30 PM IST. How many matches are in IPL 2026 Phase 1? There are 20 matches in IPL 2026 Phase 1, played across 10 venues between March 28 and April 12, 2026. When will the IPL 2026 Phase 2 schedule be announced? Phase 2 will be announced after the Election Commission of India declares assembly election dates for three poll-bound states. No official date has been confirmed, but it is expected before the end of Phase 1 in April 2026. Where can I get live IPL 2026 match data via API? Roanuz Cricket API provides real-time IPL 2026 fixtures, live scorecards, ball-by-ball data, player statistics, points tables, and schedule updates across all phases. Visit cricketapi.com to explore available data plans.The Bottom Line
IPL 2026 is a 74-match tournament being announced in two parts because of election-related constraints in three Indian states. Phase 1 gives you 20 confirmed fixtures from March 28 to April 12. Phase 2, covering the remaining league matches and playoffs, follows once the ECI declares poll dates. For developers and product teams building on cricket data, the key takeaway is to build for schedule mutability. Venues can change, new matches will be appended, and home ground assignments are split this year. Static ingestion pipelines will break. This page will be updated the moment Phase 2 is officially released by the BCCI.Need Live IPL 2026 Data for Your App or Platform?
Roanuz Cricket API delivers structured, real-time IPL 2026 data from the first ball on March 28 through the Final. Phase 2 fixtures will be available in the API the moment BCCI releases them, with no manual update needed on your end. What is included in the IPL 2026 data package:- Live scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
- Fixture updates across Phase 1 and Phase 2 as they are released
- Points table and standings updated in real time
- Player and team performance statistics
- Fantasy match points and credits
- Full historical IPL archive going back to 2008
Sources: BCCI Media Advisory, March 11, 2026, issued by Devajit Saikia (Honorary Secretary, BCCI), and the official TATA IPL 2026 schedule published at iplt20.com. Bengaluru fixtures are subject to clearance from the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka. The BCCI reserves the right to modify the schedule at its sole discretion.
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