Yesterday, the broadcasters for the Indian Premier League (IPL) confirmed the retention deadline for the 2026 auction. November 15, Saturday, has been selected as the date when the franchises announce their release and retention lists.
IPL 2026 auction date
According to the Times of India, the IPL 2026 auction will take place exactly a month after the retention deadline. December 15 and 16 are dates that can be marked on the calendar.
But one has to wonder why the broadcasters will pick Monday or Tuesday as the day for the auction, since just a day or two before (Saturday or Sunday) would, in all likelihood, attract more viewership.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) could be the reason since 120 of the 125 matches will be played by December 14.
BCCI yet to finalise venue
Deciding on the venue for the IPL 2026 auction seems to be the biggest issue the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is having. Initially, it was reported that India would host it, but that was changed. It was expected that the Middle East run would continue, but now this report claims that Abu Dhabi in the UAE is hosting the event.
Last year, the auction was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. And in 2024, Dubai hosted the event on December 19 at the Coca-Cola Arena.
IPL auction venues over the years
| Edition | Auction Venue |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Mumbai, India |
| 2009 | Goa, India |
| 2010 | Bengaluru, India |
| 2011 | Bengaluru, India |
| 2012 | Chennai, India |
| 2013 | Chennai, India |
| 2014 | Dubai, UAE |
| 2015 | Bengaluru, India |
| 2016 | Bengaluru, India |
| 2017 | Bengaluru, India |
| 2018 | Bengaluru, India |
| 2019 | Jaipur, India |
| 2020 | Kolkata, India |
| 2021 | Chennai, India |
| 2022 | Bengaluru, India |
| 2023 | Kochi, India |
| 2024 | Dubai, UAE |
| 2025 | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
