The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 schedule is ready on paper, but it will not be released just yet. With India’s domestic election calendar still unclear, the BCCI has decided to wait before locking in fixtures for the 19th season of the league. Government elections have historically hindered the scheduling of IPL games. Back in 2014, the first half of the tournament was scheduled in the UAE, while the entire IPL 2009 took place in South Africa, as the government couldn’t guarantee security during election times.
Now, the decision for IPL 2026 was taken during a recent virtual meeting of the IPL Governing Council. Senior board officials believe announcing dates without clarity on polling schedules could lead to last-minute reshuffles. It is something the board wants to avoid after the logistical chaos seen in previous election years.
Assembly elections are expected in West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu, all of which house major IPL venues. Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Chepauk in Chennai and Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati are obviously key to the league’s planning, and any overlap with voting days would stretch security resources thin.
Election slows down IPL 2026 schedule
Apart from elections, the BCCI is also waiting on clarity from two franchises regarding their home grounds. Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been given time until January 27 to confirm where they will host their home matches.
Rajasthan Royals are exploring Pune as an option, even as the Rajasthan government pushes for Jaipur to stage IPL games. RCB, meanwhile, are still not fully committed to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium despite receiving conditional clearance from the Karnataka government. The venue has remained unused since the June 2025 stampede, and safety compliance continues to be a concern.
As of now, IPL 2026 is expected to begin on March 26 and run until May 31, with 84 matches scheduled. The season is also set to clash with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) once again, which has added auctions from this year onwards.
Cricket
RCB not committed to M Chinnaswamy Stadium yet to host IPL 2026 matches
