Dubai: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be held from March 26 to May 31, maintaining the same window used in recent seasons. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the full match fixtures, but the dates for the 19th edition of the league have now been finalized.
The upcoming IPL season will begin roughly three weeks after the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from February 7 to March 8, 2026, across India and Sri Lanka. As usual, the tournament will span a little over two months, featuring the world’s top cricketing talent.
IPL 2026 to Clash with PSL Again
For the second consecutive year, the IPL will clash with the Pakistan Super League (PSL). PSL 2026 is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, directly overlapping with the IPL window. The scheduling overlap is expected to once again force international players to choose between the two leagues.
IPL 2026 Auction Underway in Abu Dhabi
Ahead of the new season, IPL franchises finalized their retained and released players in mid-November. Attention has now shifted to the IPL 2026 auction, which is taking place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.
A total of 369 players have been shortlisted for the auction, with 77 slots available across franchises, including 31 overseas positions.
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the highest number of vacancies (13)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) follow with 10 slots
- KKR also hold the largest remaining purse at INR 64.30 crore
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are next with INR 43.40 crore
Recap: IPL 2025 Final
The IPL 2025 final was played on June 3, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their maiden IPL title. RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in a thrilling final at Ahmedabad.
With the IPL 2026 dates locked in, teams and fans alike are gearing up for another blockbuster season of T20 cricket.
