The BCCI has postponed the release of the IPL 2026 schedule as it awaits the Election Commission’s announcement of polling dates for upcoming state elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, expected during April-May. The tournament is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 31.
Adding to the scheduling complexity, the board has set a firm deadline of January 27 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) to confirm their home venues before the complete fixture list can be finalized. RCB’s situation remains uncertain following new government regulations at M Chinnaswamy Stadium after the tragic June stampede, while RR faces administrative hurdles due to the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s failure to conduct elections.
BCCI Proposed IPL 2026 Venues
The BCCI has shortlisted 18 venues across India for the 2026 season, which is likely to start from March 26 to May 31. However, the final schedule announcement has been delayed pending the Election Commission of India’s confirmation of polling dates for upcoming state elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.
| Stadium name | Venue location | Home team |
|---|---|---|
| M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Chennai Super Kings |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi | Delhi Capitals |
| Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Mumbai Indians |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata, West Bengal | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | Gujarat Titans |
| Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium | New Chandigarh, Punjab | Punjab Kings |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | Hyderabad, Telangana | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium | Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh | To be confirmed |
| Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | To be confirmed |
| Assam Cricket Association Stadium (Barsapara) | Guwahati, Assam | To be confirmed |
| Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Rajasthan Royals |
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium | Pune, Maharashtra | To be confirmed |
| Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium | Raipur, Chhattisgarh | To be confirmed / RCB interest reported |
| JSCA International Stadium Complex | Ranchi, Jharkhand | To be confirmed |
| DY Patil Stadium | Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra | To be confirmed |
| Greenfield International Stadium | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | To be confirmed |
Election Delays Impact Schedule Release
With assembly elections expected during April-May 2026 in several IPL-hosting regions, security deployment and logistics concerns have become the primary reasons for the scheduling delay. The BCCI has clarified that once the Election Commission announces polling dates, the tournament fixtures will be finalized swiftly to ensure a conflict-free calendar.
RCB Chinnaswamy Stadium’s Conditional Clearance
RCB’s situation remains uncertain despite the Karnataka government granting conditional permission to host matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The venue has been cleared to resume cricket operations following extensive safety reviews after the tragic June stampede that claimed 11 lives during RCB’s IPL title celebration.
However, new government mandates require RCB to manage not just stadium logistics but also road management outside the venue, DJ restrictions, and the establishment of a fire brigade unit nearby. RCB sources claim these civic and administrative responsibilities fall outside their operational scope, viewing the demands as unjust.
The KSCA has assured compliance with Justice John Michael D’Cunha Committee’s recommendations, implementing enhanced gate management, holding areas, medical facilities, AI-enabled cameras, and improved crowd control measures. As backup options, RCB is considering DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and Raipur International Cricket Stadium for potential home fixtures if Chinnaswamy remains unavailable.
