IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule: Dates, Venues & Final Updates

May 31 in Ahmedabad. That’s when and where the IPL 2026 season ends.

The BCCI released the full playoffs schedule on May 6.

Four knockout matches are now set across three venues.

IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule

Here is everything confirmed so far, laid out clearly.

IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule at a Glance

All matches begin at 7:30 PM IST.

Six days cover all four matches. Teams have one rest day between Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2, and two days before the Final.

Not a lot of time, but the schedule is identical for both finalists.

IPL 2026 Playoffs Venues: Three Cities, Four Games

Using three separate host cities is uncommon for IPL knockouts. The BCCI treated it as an exception for the 2026 season rather than a new standard.

HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala – Qualifier 1, May 26

Dharamshala’s HPCA Stadium sits at an altitude of roughly 1,457 metres.

The Dhauladhar range forms the backdrop beyond the sightscreen.

It’s a ground that photographs well, but also plays differently to almost every other IPL venue.

Seating capacity is around 23,000. Punjab Kings have used it as an overflow home ground.

It hosted five matches at the 2023 ODI World Cup, including New Zealand vs India.

Higher altitude usually means the ball stays harder for longer and carries to the keeper more sharply.

Seamers get movement. Batters have to recalibrate. Qualifier 1 may not follow the standard IPL batting template.

New International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur – Eliminator (May 27) and Qualifier 2 (May 29)

Mullanpur’s ground is formally known as the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.

Punjab Kings have played home games here since IPL 2024.

The stadium holds around 38,000 fans. As a relatively new surface, the pitch can be harder to read ahead of a game.

What is predictable is how it handles weather: the herringbone drainage system drains surface water fast enough for play to resume within 30 minutes of rain.

For back-to-back knockout games, that reliability matters.

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad – IPL 2026 Final, May 31

The Narendra Modi Stadium is the world’s largest cricket stadium. It holds 1,32,000 spectators.

Ahmedabad has hosted three previous IPL Finals, all in recent memory.

Gujarat Titans are the only side to win an IPL Final here as the home team. Both subsequent finals were won by the away side. That’s a detail worth keeping in mind for whoever reaches the May 31 decider.

How the Bengaluru Final Became the Ahmedabad Final?

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was the original designated host for the IPL 2026 Final. It didn’t stay that way.

The BCCI stated publicly that the Karnataka Cricket Association and local authorities had put forward requirements that exceeded the board’s established guidelines.

Separate reports connected this to a dispute over ticket allocations, with Karnataka MLAs reportedly pushing for guaranteed match-day seats at IPL games in Bengaluru.

The BCCI declined, and Ahmedabad took over as host. It’s a venue with infrastructure already set up for finals of this scale.

The knock-on effect: if Royal Challengers Bengaluru make the Final as defending champions, they won’t get a home crowd. They would be the away team in the very stadium where they won last year.

IPL 2026 Playoff Format: Who Needs to Win What?

The IPL uses the Page playoff system, a format borrowed from Australian domestic cricket. It’s designed to give the top two league-stage teams more protection than the teams in third and fourth.

Teams that finish first or second in the league phase have a cushion. They can lose Qualifier 1 and still make the Final via Qualifier 2.

Teams finishing third or fourth have no such cushion. One defeat and the season is over.

This is the structural reason why the league-stage standings matter almost as much as the playoffs themselves.

Where to Watch IPL 2026 Playoff Matches?

TV: Star Sports broadcasts all four matches live on television across India.

Streaming: JioHotstar is the official digital home of IPL 2026. All playoff matches stream live on the JioHotstar app and website.

Every match starts at 7:30 PM IST. The Final on Sunday, May 31, is the easiest to plan around with no weekday conflict.

FAQs

• When does Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026 take place?

Qualifier 1 is on Tuesday, May 26, at HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala. Start time is 7:30 PM IST.

• Where is the IPL 2026 Final being held?

Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosts the Final on Sunday, May 31.

• Why did the IPL 2026 Final move from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad?

The BCCI said the Karnataka Cricket Association’s demands exceeded their standard guidelines. Reports tied it to a dispute over MLA ticket allocations for IPL matches in Bengaluru.

• How many venues are hosting the IPL 2026 playoffs?

Three venues: HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, New International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, and Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

• Can a team reach the IPL Final after losing a playoff match?

Yes. Teams finishing 1st or 2nd in the league phase can lose Qualifier 1 and still reach the Final through Qualifier 2.

• Which channel is broadcasting the IPL 2026 playoffs?

Star Sports carries the TV broadcast. JioHotstar streams all matches live online.

Conclusion:

The IPL 2026 playoffs cover six days across three cities.

Dharamshala hosts the opener on May 26.

Mullanpur handles the next two knockout games on May 27 and May 29.

The Final is in Ahmedabad on May 31.

Four playoff spots are still being decided.

Once the league stage settles, these are the dates and venues that will determine who lifts the trophy.