The Indian Premier League’s 2026 season is set to begin with a staggered fixture rollout as organisers balance tournament planning with upcoming state elections.
The IPL Governing Council has approved a two-phase release of the Season 19 schedule, with the first portion of fixtures expected to be announced soon, as previously reported by cricexec. The decision was finalised during an online meeting of the Governing Council, with the initial set of matches likely to be revealed around March 6 or 7.
Two-phase IPL 2026 schedule cleared amid election uncertainty
The staggered announcement comes as authorities await the Election Commission’s declaration of polling dates for assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu. With the timeline tightening ahead of the tournament, organisers have opted to release the schedule in two stages rather than delay the full announcement.
The first phase of the IPL 2026 fixtures is expected to cover roughly the opening 13 to 14 days of the tournament. Reports have also indicated that the season could begin slightly later than initially anticipated, with March 28 or March 29 emerging as possible start dates, while the final is scheduled for May 31.
According to Cricbuzz, the IPL customarily begins with the defending champions hosting the opening match at home, and that tradition is expected to continue this year. That scenario would place Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the centre of the tournament’s opening night, with the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium expected to stage both the season opener and the final.
Chinnaswamy Stadium set to host IPL opener and final
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already confirmed that five of their home fixtures will take place at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, reinforcing expectations that the venue will play a major role in the upcoming season.
The franchise highlighted the development in a social media announcement, writing, “𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲. 🏟️❤️🥹 5️⃣ home games at the Chinnaswamy. ❤️🔥 2️⃣ in Raipur. 😎 Bengaluru, get ready. The champions return to entertain you! 👑🔥 #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB.”
𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲. 🏟️❤️🥹
5️⃣ home games at the Chinnaswamy. ❤️🔥
2️⃣ in Raipur. 😎Bengaluru, get ready. The champions return to entertain you! 👑🔥#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/WGBG8niDUv
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 3, 2026
Confirming the arrangement, Chief Executive Rajesh Menon said the franchise had completed the necessary regulatory process before finalising its home venues. “After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process around permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible,” he said in an official statement.
Menon also emphasised the significance of the stadium to the franchise and its supporters. “The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home ground it is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have stood by us unconditionally, and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home.”
Safety upgrades pave way for Bengaluru return
The confirmation follows extensive discussions with local authorities after safety concerns at the venue prompted a detailed review process. In an official franchise release, Royal Challengers Bengaluru acknowledged the role played by state authorities and governing bodies in facilitating the return of matches to the venue.
“RCB extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Karnataka Police for their unwavering guidance, cooperation and support in facilitating the hosting of matches in Bengaluru,” the franchise stated.
The organisation also noted that significant operational and infrastructure work had been undertaken ahead of the new season. “The collective efforts to ramp up infrastructure and safety measures in time for the IPL season have ensured that the defending champions will play the majority of their home games in their home ground.”
Raipur to host two RCB home fixtures
While Bengaluru will stage the bulk of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home matches, the franchise confirmed that two games will take place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.
The arrangement reflects prior commitments made by the franchise while discussions around the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s readiness were still ongoing. With approvals now in place, the Bengaluru venue is expected to once again become the primary base for the defending champions as IPL 2026 approaches.
