The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) final is all set to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. Earlier on Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia had informed that the venues and the schedule for the IPL 2026 playoffs will be finalized and announced in a couple of days. Departing from the usual convention, Bengaluru will not be hosting the IPL 2026 final despite being the defending champions.
IPL 2026 playoffs schedule announced
As per a press release issued by the BCCI. the IPL 2026 playoffs will be held across three venues, including Ahmedabad, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) and Dharamsala due to operational and logistical considerations. While Bengaluru was supposed to host the IPL 2026 final, that will not be the case, as the BCCI has cited requirements from the local association and authorities which are beyond the scope of the board. As a result, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the final.
“Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the TATA IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case. Bengaluru was originally designated to host the Final. 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,” the BCCI said in a statement.
| Match Stage | Date | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | May 26 | HPCA Stadium | Dharamshala |
| Eliminator | May 27 | New International Cricket Stadium | New Chandigarh |
| Qualifier 2 | May 29 | New International Cricket Stadium | New Chandigarh |
| Final | May 31 | Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad |
Qualifier 1 will be held on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala while the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 will take place in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
KSCA issues statement after BCCI’s move
In a statement issued after the announcement of the IPL 2026 playoffs schedule, the KSCA expressed disappointment over the decision to move the final out of Bengaluru. The state association claimed that it had adhered to all norms regarding facilitating fans and crowd management in the first phase of the IPL, specific reasons for shifting out the IPL 2026 final have not been formally communicated to the KSCA despite repeated efforts to stay in touch with the BCCI by the Venkatesh Prasad-led group.
“The communication addressed by KSCA was purely factual, operational, and clarificatory in nature, intended only to provide transparency and clarity regarding logistical and stakeholder-related requirements associated with hosting such high-profile matches. Despite our preparedness and willingness to host the Playoffs, we understand that the BCCI has taken a decision to allot these matches to other venues,” KSCA’s statement read.
BCCI’s apprehension over hosting the IPL 2026 final at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is understood. Before the start of IPL 2026, reports had claimed that the Chinnaswamy Stadium will host a Qualifier and the IPL 2026 final. However, the board did not confirm any of these reports. It is pertinent to point out that cricket returned to the iconic venue in the Karnataka capital for the first time after June 4, 2025 when IPL 2026 commenced.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), led by Venkatesh Prasad, raced against time to complete renovation works at the stadium and implement other measures as suggested by the Justice Cunha Commission which probed the Bengaluru stampede in which 11 people died and several were injured in the celebrations of RCB’s maiden title win. However, despite their efforts, the BCCI has decided against the regular convention to move the IPL 2026 final to another venue instead of allowing the defending champions to host it. Before the IPL 2026 started, it was reported that RCB were hesitant to return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Subsequently, it was decided that RCB would play five of their home games in Bengaluru and the remainder in Raipur.
With this announcement, Ahmedabad overtakes Chennai to become the venue to host the most number of IPL finals, having done so in 2022, 2023, 2025 and now in 2026 as well.
| Venue | Number of Finals | Years Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 4 | 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026* |
| Chepauk | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2024 |
| Eden Garden | 2 | 2013, 2015 |
| Bengaluru | 2 | 2014, 2016 |
| Hyderabad | 2 | 2017, 2019 |
| Dubai | 2 | 2020, 2021 |
| DY Patil, Mumbai | 2 | 2008, 2010 |
| Wankhede | 1 | 2018 |
| Johannesburg | 1 | 2009 |
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