IPL 2026 Final Set for Ahmedabad: Playoffs Schedule Announced
IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule Revealed
File image of NARENDRA Modi Stadium(Photo: @pintusi11376418/X)
Mumbai, May 6: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced that Ahmedabad will be the venue for the IPL 2026 final, as part of the playoffs schedule released on Wednesday, marking the end of another thrilling season.
The playoffs will kick off with Qualifier 1 on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, featuring the top two teams from the league stage, with a direct spot in the final on the line.
Next, the action shifts to the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, where the Eliminator will take place on May 27 between the teams finishing third and fourth. This venue will also host Qualifier 2 on May 29, where the loser of Qualifier 1 will compete against the winner of the Eliminator to secure the second spot in the final.
According to the BCCI, "The season will culminate with the grand final on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the largest cricket stadium globally, promising an unforgettable finale. Due to specific operational and logistical factors, the TATA IPL 2026 Playoffs will be held at three different venues this season as a unique arrangement."
Typically, the IPL final is hosted at the home ground of the defending champion. In this instance, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the last edition, which would have meant M Chinnaswamy Stadium hosting the final. However, the BCCI clarified that local authority requirements that exceeded their established guidelines made it impossible to hold the final in Bengaluru.
"Bengaluru was initially slated to host the final. However, due to certain stipulations from the local association and authorities that were beyond the BCCI's established protocols, the venue has been relocated," the BCCI stated.
Playoffs Schedule:
Qualifier 1: May 26 – HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
Eliminator: May 27 – New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
Qualifier 2: May 29 – New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
Final: May 31 – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad