Lanka Premier League 2026 got a new starting and ending dates - Know everything here

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has made an official announcement regarding the rescheduled dates of the sixth season of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The tournament is now set to be held from July 8 to August 8, 2026. This move signifies a return to the league's usual mid-summer period, a timeframe that proved to be highly advantageous during previous seasons, including the 2023 one.

The shift in schedule is a result of SLC's decision to delay the tournament from late November to late December 2025, which was initially planned for the first week of December. This postponement was necessary as Sri Lanka is set to partner with India in the co-hosting arrangement for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The global tournament is planned for the months of February and March 2026, and the SLC has made the revelation of the venue’s readiness and related infrastructural revamping at the three chosen World Cup venues a priority.

LPL rescheduled as Sri Lanka focuses on World Cup venues

The renovation project of the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo had already been put on hold due to Sri Lanka’s commitment as a co-host of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Now, with another major ICC event approaching, SLC is directing all its efforts towards ensuring the timely completion of all stadium improvements, even if it means finishing ahead of the projected timeline. The board has pointed out that the requirement of meticulous planning for the hosting of back-to-back ICC events makes the alteration of the LPL schedule a very significant act.

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In an official press release, SLC confirmed that this action was taken with a view to the wider national cricketing priorities. The board stated, "The postponement was made with the requirement of preparing the host venues of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 well in advance, which directly justifies the league's mid-year return, constituting several previous editions."

The preparations are still there, and the attention is not just on the teams for the upcoming season, but also on team changes. The four franchises, Colombo Kaps, Dambulla Sixers, Galle Marvels, and Kandy Falcons, have already decided on the 2026 season. Meanwhile, the Jaffna franchise, formerly known as the Jaffna Kings, remains in an uncertain future after SLC's decision to terminate the contract between them. The former owner, Lyca Group, was found unfit and was thus removed from the board. It is still unknown if SLC will rebrand the Jaffna team or if it will be completely replaced with a new franchise.

SLC is looking to the revamped dates to give both the LPL and the T20 World Cup the strategic attention and planning they need, thus ensuring a successful cricketing calendar for 2026.