IPL 2026 will start on March 28, two days after what the BCCI had originally planned.
The IPL had informed the franchises on December 15 2025, a day before the last auction, that the 2026 edition would start on March 26, but ESPNcricinfo has learned that the IPL has internally decided to change the start date to March 28, and have the final on May 31.
It is understood that the IPL Governing Council will meet next week to finalise the plan for releasing the schedule, which has been delayed because the dates for assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have not been announced yet. While Kolkata (in West Bengal) and Chennai (in Tamil Nadu) are the home bases for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) respectively, Assam's capital Guwahati is the second venue for Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Since the IPL began in 2008, when the country has had its general elections - in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 - or a state has had its assembly elections, the schedule has been announced in two parts. The GC is expected to decide whether to have the same plan this time too, or wait for the Election Commission of India to announce the poll dates for the three states first.
The IPL Governing Council is also expected to discuss where the opening match of the tournament will be played, as it will feature defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Following the stampede during RCB's victory celebrations at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium last June, which resulted in the death of 11 fans, RCB has been involved in discussions with the Karnataka State Cricket Association on whether the team's seven home matches would be played at the venue or be moved somewhere else.
RCB had shortlisted a few alternate venues, including Navi Mumbai, Raipur and Pune.
