The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the IPL 2026 schedule for Phase 1 of the TATA Indian Premier League. The tournament will begin on March 28, 2026, and continue until April 12, 2026.
This season, the IPL 2026 will be conducted in two phases due to the upcoming State Assembly Elections in states like Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry. The remaining fixtures will be announced after confirmation from the Election Commission of India.
IPL 2026 Start Date
This year, in 2026, the 19th edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to start on Saturday, 28 March 2026. The opening match will be played between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
In the first phase of IPL T20 in 2026, there will be 20 matches, and the rest of the match schedules will come when the Election Commission confirms the date of the elections, which will be held in April-May.
There will be a total of 10 venues for the first phase of IPL 2026. These cities will host the initial league matches of IPL 2026, ensuring nationwide coverage and fan engagement.
IPL 2026 Complete Match Schedule (Phase 1)
Here is the IPL 2026 Complete Match Schedule given in a table:
| Match | Date | Day | Time | Teams | Venue |
| 1 | Mar 28 | Sat | 7:30 PM | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru |
| 2 | Mar 29 | Sun | 7:30 PM | MI vs KKR | Mumbai |
| 3 | Mar 30 | Mon | 7:30 PM | RR vs CSK | Guwahati |
| 4 | Mar 31 | Tue | 7:30 PM | PBKS vs GT | New Chandigarh |
| 5 | Apr 1 | Wed | 7:30 PM | LSG vs DC | Lucknow |
| 6 | Apr 2 | Thu | 7:30 PM | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata |
| 7 | Apr 3 | Fri | 7:30 PM | CSK vs PBKS | Chennai |
| 8 | Apr 4 | Sat | 3:30 PM | DC vs MI | Delhi |
| 9 | Apr 4 | Sat | 7:30 PM | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | Apr 5 | Sun | 3:30 PM | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad |
| 11 | Apr 5 | Sun | 7:30 PM | RCB vs CSK | Bengaluru |
| 12 | Apr 6 | Mon | 7:30 PM | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata |
| 13 | Apr 7 | Tue | 7:30 PM | RR vs MI | Guwahati |
| 14 | Apr 8 | Wed | 7:30 PM | DC vs GT | Delhi |
| 15 | Apr 9 | Thu | 7:30 PM | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata |
| 16 | Apr 10 | Fri | 7:30 PM | RR vs RCB | Guwahati |
| 17 | Apr 11 | Sat | 3:30 PM | PBKS vs SRH | New Chandigarh |
| 18 | Apr 11 | Sat | 7:30 PM | CSK vs DC | Chennai |
| 19 | Apr 12 | Sun | 3:30 PM | LSG vs GT | Lucknow |
| 20 | Apr 12 | Sun | 7:30 PM | MI vs RCB | Mumbai |
Source: iplt20
IPL 2026 First Match
The IPL 2026 opening match will feature an exciting clash between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
- Match: RCB vs SRH
- Date: March 28, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
This high-voltage encounter will kick off the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League, setting the stage for another thrilling T20 season.
Key Highlights of IPL 2026
- IPL 2026 to be played in two phases
- Phase 1 includes 20 matches across 10 venues
- Matches scheduled in prime time (7:30 PM) and double-headers (3:30 PM & 7:30 PM)
- Full schedule pending due to election timelines in India
