On Wednesday (May 6), the BCCI confirmed the schedule for the IPL 2026 playoffs. Find the full list here.
IPL 2026: Playoffs spread across three venues, Ahmedabad to host final
An official statement was posted on the IPL website and across social media on the morning of May 6. "Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the TATA IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case," the statement read. The Eliminator and Qualifier 2 are usually held at the same venue.
Those three venues are the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Dharamshala and Mullanpur serve as home venues for the Punjab Kings, losing finalists in IPL 2025.
Read more: IPL 2026 points table after DC vs CSK: Latest standings and net run rate after Chennai beat Delhi
Traditionally, the IPL final is hosted by the home venue of the previous year's IPL winner. Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL in 2025, but their title celebrations were marred by a stampede at their home venue of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after the final. The venue later received clearance to host five IPL games this season, but will not host the final.
"Bengaluru was originally designated to host the Final," said the BCCI. "However, owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI's established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned."
Before this season began, the Bengaluru venue was also the centre of a storm when Members of the Karnataka state Legislative Assembly demanded five free IPL tickets each, citing their status of VIPs. Local press has speculated that this could be the reason for Bengaluru losing out on the final.
IPL 2026 playoffs: Full schedule and list of venues
| Match | Teams | Date | Venue |
| Qualifier 1 (Q1) | No.1 vs No.2 | May 26, 2026 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala |
| Eliminator (E) | No.3 vs No.4 | May 27, 2026 | New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh |
| Qualifier 2 (Q2) | Loser of Q1 vs Winner of E | May 29, 2026 | New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh |
| Final | Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2 | May 31, 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
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