Credit: BCCI/IPL
The Indian Premier League 2026 is scheduled to begin on 26th March 2026. However, the IPL schedule has still not been announced by the BCCI and the questions are being raised about what is causing the delay. While franchises have been informed about the overall timeline, multiple logistical and administrative factors have slowed down the release of match-by-match fixtures.
Confirmed IPL 2026 Tournament Window
Although the detailed schedule is pending, the BCCI has locked the broad dates for the season.
| Phase | Dates |
|---|---|
| League Stage | March 26 – May 24, 2026 |
| Playoffs | May 25 – May 30, 2026 |
| IPL 2026 Final | May 31, 2026 |
The delay is not due to uncertainty around dates, but rather challenges in finalising venues and match allocations.
Assembly Elections Creating Scheduling Challenges
One of the biggest reasons behind the delay is the assembly elections schedule at multiple states during the IPL window. Elections require extensive deployment of police and administrative staff, which directly impacts stadium security and match operations.
| State | Affected Franchise(s) | Concern |
|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | Kolkata Knight Riders | Security deployment |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai Super Kings | Police availability |
| Assam | Neutral IPL matches | Election duties |
| Kerala (spillover impact) | Nearby venues | Crowd management |
Until election dates are officially announced, the BCCI cannot confirm match dates in these regions.
Venue Readiness After ICC Events
Several IPL venues are also being used for the ongoing T20 World Cup, including ICC events. Grounds that host back-to-back tournaments need time for pitch recovery, ground refurbishment, and logistical resets.
| Venue | City | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | Awaiting clearance |
| MA Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | Pitch preparation |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | Multi-event hosting |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | Scheduling review |
This overlap has made it difficult for the BCCI to lock exact match dates.
Tentative Home Venues for IPL 2026 Teams
While final confirmation is pending, franchises are expected to use their traditional home grounds, with a few venues kept on standby.
| Team | Expected Home Ground |
|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | Wankhede Stadium |
| Chennai Super Kings | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Eden Gardens |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| Rajasthan Royals | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Barsapara Stadium, MCA Stadium |
| Gujarat Titans | Narendra Modi Stadium |
| Delhi Capitals | Arun Jaitley Stadium and ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium |
| Punjab Kings | Mullanpur Stadium and HPCA Stadium |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Ekana Stadium |
When Will the IPL 2026 Schedule Be Released?
Once election dates are finalised and state authorities give security clearance, the BCCI is expected to release the schedule, possibly in phases. The board may initially announce the first two weeks of matches, followed by the remaining schedule later. It wilk be interesting to see if the schedule can be announced by 15th February.
