IPL 2026 playoffs schedule announced: Key dates and venues

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the schedule for the IPL 2026 playoffs which includes information about the dates and venues of the tournament's most important matches. The competition will enter its knockout phase after the league stage which included 70 matches has concluded, as the best teams compete for the championship title.

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The playoffs will take place in Dharamshala and New Chandigarh and Ahmedabad, while the championship match will occur at Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31. The IPL final will take place in Ahmedabad for the fourth time during the past five seasons.

IPL 2026 playoffs schedule

Dharamshala to host Qualifier 1

The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala will host Qualifier 1 on May 26. The match will feature the top two teams from the IPL 2026 points table, with the winner directly securing a place in the final.

The picturesque location of Himachal Pradesh will generate thrilling match conditions as teams compete to win the most efficient route to the championship match.

New Chandigarh gets two playoff matches

The New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, also known as Mullanpur, will host both the Eliminator and Qualifier 2. The Eliminator on May 27 will feature the third and fourth-placed teams, with the losing side getting knocked out of the tournament.

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The winning team will play the losing team from Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 which takes place on May 29 for a chance to reach the final match. The newly-developed venue has reached its second significant event which establishes its growing role as an important site for Indian cricket matches.

Ahmedabad to host IPL 2026 final

The IPL 2026 final will take place at Narendra Modi Stadium located in Ahmedabad on May 31. The cricket stadium which holds the title of being the largest stadium in the world has become a usual site for IPL finals during recent times.

Bengaluru was chosen as the location for the summit clash because Royal Challengers Bengaluru had won IPL 2025. The BCCI announced that they had to switch venues because of operational and logistical problems.

The board announced through its official statement that this season's playoffs will take place at three venues which they considered a special case. The playoff schedule has been confirmed which will increase competition among teams for the top four positions during their remaining league games.

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