New Delhi: IPL tradition dictates that the final be held at the defending champion’s home ground. RCB won the IPL 2025 title, but the final will not be held at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium will host the IPL 2026 title match on May 31st. The playoffs will begin on May 26th.
A record fourth final will be held in Ahmedabad.
This will be the fourth time in five years that the final will be held in Ahmedabad. The 2022, 2023, and 2025 finals were also held at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This will also set the record for hosting the most IPL finals. Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium has already hosted three finals. Last year, the final was scheduled to be held in Kolkata, but due to the possibility of rain, the title match was shifted to Ahmedabad.
🚨 News 🚨
BCCI Announces #TATAIPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
Qualifier 1: Dharamshala
Eliminator and Qualifier 2: New Chandigarh
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad to Host Grand Finale 🏟️
More Details ▶️ https://t.co/32HvsabiuF#KhelBindaas pic.twitter.com/ItrNUNoxHZ
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 6, 2026
Why didn’t Bengaluru get the final?
After Bengaluru wasn’t awarded the final, the BCCI said in a statement, “Bengaluru was initially selected to host the final. However, due to certain requirements of the local association and officials that were outside the scope of the BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been changed and relocated.
The last match of the group round will be played on May 24th. The playoffs will begin on the 26th. The first qualifier will be held in Dharamsala. The eliminator will be played in New Chandigarh on May 27th. The second qualifier will be played in New Chandigarh on May 29th. The final will then be played between the winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on May 31st.
IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule
Match Date Venue City
Qualifier 1 – May 26 HPCA Stadium Dharamsala
Eliminator – May 27 Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium New Chandigarh
Qualifier 2 – May 29 Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium New Chandigarh
Final – May 31 Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad