IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule Announced; Ahmedabad to Host Final on May 31
Dharamshala and New Chandigarh to stage key knockout matches; final shifted from Bengaluru due to logistical constraints
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the schedule for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs, marking the final phase of the tournament after 70 high-intensity league matches.
Qualifier 1, featuring the top two teams in the standings, will be played on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, with a direct spot in the final at stake. The Eliminator, between the third and fourth-placed teams, will take place on May 27 at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
The same venue will also host Qualifier 2 on May 29, where the loser of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator to decide the second finalist.
The grand finale of IPL 2026 will be held on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket stadium.
In a notable change, Bengaluru, which was initially scheduled to host the final, has been replaced due to certain requirements from local authorities that fell outside the BCCI’s operational guidelines. As a result, the playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special arrangement.
