The 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin on March 28, broadcaster Star Sports announced on Sunday. The confirmation came shortly before the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between the India national cricket team and the New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
However, the complete match schedule for IPL 2026 is yet to be released by the league organisers.
RCB Enter Season as Defending Champions
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will enter the upcoming season as the defending champions after defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the 2025 IPL final, which was also held in Ahmedabad.
According to officials from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), five of RCB’s home matches during the 2026 season will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Bengaluru to Host Final and Playoff
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is also scheduled to host one playoff match and the IPL 2026 final, making it a key venue for the tournament this season.
RCB’s remaining two home matches will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.
Franchise Thanks Karnataka Authorities
In an official statement, the franchise thanked the Karnataka government, KSCA and the Karnataka Police for their support in ensuring the smooth hosting of matches in Bengaluru.
RCB said that joint efforts to upgrade stadium infrastructure and strengthen security arrangements have helped ensure that the majority of their home fixtures will be played at their primary venue in Bengaluru.
The IPL remains one of the most popular cricket leagues globally, and fans are now awaiting the full fixture list and team matchups for the 2026 season.
