The schedule for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League is expected to be announced soon, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming that the initial fixtures could be released within the next couple of days.
According to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, the board is likely to unveil the first phase of the schedule on March 11.
The 19th edition of the IPL is scheduled to begin on March 28 and will run until May 31. However, unlike previous seasons, the full schedule will not be released at once. Instead, the BCCI plans to announce the fixtures in two phases.
The first announcement will cover the opening 20 days of the tournament, while the remaining matches will be confirmed later.
Saikia explained that the decision to release the schedule in stages is mainly due to the upcoming legislative assembly elections in several Indian states.
Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala are expected to go to the polls this summer, and the election timeline could influence match scheduling and venue arrangements. The BCCI is waiting for the official election dates from the Election Commission before finalising the remainder of the IPL calendar.
The cricket board is also awaiting confirmations from a few host venues before publishing the first set of fixtures. Along with the regular IPL venues, Raipur is expected to feature as a new centre this season, which could expand the tournament’s geographical reach and bring matches to a new group of fans.
Despite the wait for the official schedule, IPL franchises have already begun preparations for the upcoming campaign. Teams across the league have started pre-season training camps and practice sessions as they gear up for another competitive season.
Players, coaching staff, and management groups are working on combinations and strategies ahead of the tournament opener later this month.
The IPL remains one of the most popular cricket leagues in the world, attracting global stars and millions of viewers each year. With the first phase of the schedule expected to be announced shortly, fans and franchises alike will soon have a clearer picture of the early fixtures for the highly anticipated 2026 season.
