Cricket

Indian Premier League Format & Schedule

By Site Editor

01 Apr 2026

Site Editor 01 Apr 2026

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Fixture list and format for the 2026 IPL
IPL began on March 28 and will end on May 31
Royal Challengers Bangalore arrive as the reigning champions

Royal Challengers Bengalore's Virat Kohli (Getty Images)

2026 Indian Premier League Format & Schedule
2026 IPL Format
2026 IPL Teams
2026 IPL Group Fixtures
2026 IPL Knockout Fixtures
Previous IPL Winners

2026 Indian Premier League Format & Schedule

The Indian Premier League returns in 2026 for yet another edition of the biggest Twenty20 competition in the men's game.

With star names including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Shubman Gill, the IPL brings massive shots, cartwheeling wickets, shock drops and moments of jaw-dropping skill in abundance.

Take a look at our guide to the 2026 IPL below to find out which sides are involved, when the tournament ends and which teams have won the previous iterations of the tournament.

2026 IPL Format

The 2026 IPL will see the same 10 sides that partook in the competition last season all returning as each of the nine teams battles to take the trophy from reigning champions Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The format of the tournament has seen sides moved into two separate groups made up of five teams. Teams in Group A will play the other four sides in their group once, while they will play each of the five outfits from Group B twice.

The top four teams in the combined table of all 10 sides will move into the knockout stages. The top two outfits will battle in the Qualifier, with the winner moving into the final.

The sides finishing in third and fourth move into the first Eliminator, with the loser knocked out and the winner taking on the loser of the Qualifier in the second Eliminator. The winner of the second Eliminator moves into the grand final.

2026 IPL Teams

Chennai Super Kings
Delhi Capitals
Gujarat Titans
Kolkata Knight Riders
Lucknow Super Giants
Mumbai Indians
Punjab Kings
Rajasthan Royals
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sunrisers Hyderabad

2026 IPL Group Fixtures

IPL 2026 Group Games Start Date: March 28, 2026
IPL 2026 Group Games End Date: May 24, 2026

2026 IPL Knockout Fixtures

Qualifier 1: May 2026*
Eliminator 1: May 2026*
Eliminator 2: May 2026 *

(*Specific dates for knockout stages TBC)

Grand Final: May 31, 2026

Previous IPL Winners

Year	Winner
2008	Rajasthan Royals
2009	Deccan Chargers
2010	Chennai Super Kings
2011	Chennai Super Kings
2012	Kolkata Knight Riders
2013	Mumbai Indians
2014	Kolkata Knight Rider
2015	Mumbai Indians
2016	Sunrisers Hyderabad
2017	Mumbai Indians
2018	Chennai Super Kings
2019	Mumbai Indians
2020	Mumbai Indians
2021	Chennai Super Kings
2022	Gujarat Titans
2023	Chennai Super Kings
2024	Kolkata Knight Riders
2025	Royal Challengers Bangalore
2026	TBD