The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs, confirming Dharamshala, New Chandigarh and Ahmedabad as the venues for the final phase of the tournament.
After the completion of 70 league-stage matches, the tournament will now move into the knockout phase, beginning with Qualifier 1 on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. The match will feature the top two teams on the points table, with the winner securing direct entry into the IPL 2026 Final.
The Eliminator, involving the teams placed third and fourth in the standings, will be played on May 27 at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
The same venue will also host Qualifier 2 on May 29. The match will decide the second finalist, with the loser of Qualifier 1 taking on the winner of the Eliminator.
The IPL 2026 season will conclude on May 31 with the Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, regarded as the world’s largest cricket stadium.
In its official statement, the IPL said the playoffs were being conducted across three venues this season due to “certain operational and logistical considerations”.
Bengaluru had originally been designated to host the final, however, the venue was shifted following issues linked to “requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols”.
The IPL playoff schedule is as follows:
- 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
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