IPL 2026 Shifts to March 28, Final Set for May 31 Clash

Governing Council Meeting

Next week, an IPL Governing Council meeting will be held to formally ratify the revised dates. It is said that the meeting will give official confirmation on the schedule — with the opening fixture and the venue of the final.
After it is approved, the full timetable for the venues will be announced to the fans, launching another two months of major T20 action. 

Election Delays Explained

The announcement of the schedule of the next season has so far not occurred due to the dates for the Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu not being finalized. Home matches are scheduled for Kolkata (West Bengal) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and Guwahati (Assam’s capital) will likely serve as a second home venue for Rajasthan Royals. The match-ups will be organized in the states and cities so there will not be any pressure on the administration. 

BCCI's Early Finale Call

The BCCI had already announced that the season would start on March 26. The franchises agreed that the date was conveyed to them from December's IPL auction session in Abu Dhabi. And as of early Friday, the window for that date would be between March 26 (Thursday) and May 31 (Saturday), reports the franchises. No immediate information has shown whether the final will be postponed by a day or two at present. 

Opener Venue Uncertainty

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the defending champions, will step into the new season after the team won their first IPL title last season with a six-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) last season in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
RCB will also compete in the opening game of the season, but the venue will be uncertain due to ongoing works to improve safety facilities at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru still in play.

Final Hosting Issues

Traditionally the IPL final is hosted by the defending champions but with the champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), not looking comfortable and currently battling the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
Although M.Chinnaswamy Stadium has been cleared for matches following an altercation over a deadly stampede last year, RCB have not yet contracted to do so with the KSCA at the now controversy-ridden venue.