The IPL 2026 playoffs schedule is out. Four matches. Three cities. One champion.
The BCCI confirmed the knockout stage on May 6, 2026.
It runs from May 26 to May 31, covering just six days of cricket.
IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
Here is everything you need to know before the first ball is bowled.
Complete IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
All four playoff matches have confirmed dates and venues.
| Match | Date | Venue | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | May 26 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala | Tuesday |
| Eliminator | May 27 | New International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur | Wednesday |
| Qualifier 2 | May 29 | New International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur | Friday |
| Final | May 31 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | Sunday |
Every match starts at 7:30 PM IST.
Teams get one rest day between most fixtures. That matters for fast bowlers recovering after Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator.
IPL 2026 Playoffs Venues
Three venues are hosting the 2026 knockout stage. That’s unusual for IPL playoffs, which typically use one or two cities. The BCCI called it a “special case” for this season.
| Venue | City | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| HPCA Stadium | Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh | ~23,000 |
| New International Cricket Stadium | Mullanpur, Punjab | ~38,000 |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | ~1,32,000 |
HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala (Qualifier 1 – May 26)
The HPCA Stadium sits at roughly 1,457 metres above sea level. Behind the stands, the Dhauladhar mountains form one of the most recognisable backdrops in Indian cricket.
Capacity is around 23,000. It has served as a secondary home for the Punjab Kings and hosted five matches during the 2023 ODI World Cup, including the New Zealand vs India fixture.
At altitude, fast bowlers tend to get extra bounce and movement off the pitch. Seam-friendly conditions could shape how Qualifier 1 plays out.
New International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur (Eliminator and Qualifier 2)
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur is one of India’s newest grounds. Punjab Kings have played here since IPL 2024.
Capacity sits at approximately 38,000. The stadium has a herringbone drainage system that allows play to resume within 30 minutes of rain stopping. That’s worth knowing for two knockout matches where a no-result isn’t an option.
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (Final – May 31)
The world’s largest cricket stadium holds 1,32,000 spectators. It has hosted the IPL Final three times before.
| Year | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | Beat RR by 7 wickets |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Beat GT by 5 wickets |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Beat PBKS by 6 runs |
Two of those three finals were won by the away team. No side has won the Ahmedabad final twice yet.
Why Was the Final Moved From Bengaluru to Ahmedabad?
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was originally scheduled to host the IPL 2026 Final. The BCCI shifted it out.
The official statement cited “certain requirements from the local association and authorities” that fell outside BCCI guidelines.
Multiple reports connected the shift to a row over ticket allocations, where Karnataka MLAs reportedly sought priority access to match-day seats, creating complications around crowd management.
The BCCI moved the final to Ahmedabad. It’s a venue with 132,000 seats and three IPL finals of experience. The logistics make sense.
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions, this means they won’t get a home final even if they qualify. They’ll be the away side in Ahmedabad.
How the IPL 2026 Playoffs Work?
The IPL uses a Page playoff system, borrowed from Australian cricket. It’s designed to reward the top two teams on the league table.
| Stage | Format |
|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | 1st vs 2nd. Winner goes straight to the Final. Loser gets a second chance. |
| Eliminator | 3rd vs 4th. Loser goes home. Winner advances. |
| Qualifier 2 | Q1 loser vs Eliminator winner. Winner reaches the Final. Loser is out. |
| Final | Q1 winner vs Q2 winner. The title is decided here. |
Teams finishing 1st and 2nd have two chances to reach the Final. Teams finishing 3rd and 4th must win every game from here.
That’s why the battle for the top two spots in the league phase matters as much as the knockouts themselves.
How to Watch IPL 2026 Playoffs Live?
TV: All four matches air live on the Star Sports network across India.
Streaming: JioHotstar is the official digital broadcaster for IPL 2026. All matches are available on the JioHotstar app and website.
Matches start at 7:30 PM IST. The final on May 31 is a Sunday, so no work excuses for missing that one.
FAQs
- When does the IPL 2026 playoffs start?
Qualifier 1 is on May 26, 2026, at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala.
- Where is the IPL 2026 Final?
The final is at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, 2026.
- Why was the IPL 2026 Final moved from Bengaluru?
The BCCI said the Karnataka Cricket Association’s requirements went beyond their guidelines. Reports linked the shift to a dispute over ticket allocations for local MLAs.
- How many venues are hosting the IPL 2026 playoffs?
Three venues: Dharamshala (Qualifier 1), Mullanpur (Eliminator and Qualifier 2), and Ahmedabad (Final).
- What time do IPL 2026 playoff matches start?
All four matches begin at 7:30 PM IST.
- How does the IPL playoff format work?
It’s a Page system. The top two teams get two chances to reach the Final. Third and fourth-placed teams must win every knockout match to advance.
Conclusion:
Four matches between May 26 and May 31 will decide who lifts the IPL 2026 trophy.
Dharamshala opens the knockout stage on a scenic mountain ground.
Mullanpur handles the middle two matches at a modern stadium built for exactly this.
Ahmedabad closes it out on the biggest stage in world cricket.
The race for four playoff spots is still on. When it settles, these are the dates and venues where it all gets decided.
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