The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the schedule for IPL 2026 playoffs, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad set to host the final on May 31. Qualifier 1, set to be played between the top two teams, will be staged at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on May 26. The winner of that match will go straight through to the final.
The attention will then shift to the Eliminator, which will see third and fourth-placed teams face off against each other on May 27 at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. The same venue will also host Qualifier 2 on May 29, in which the loser of Qualifier 1 will take on the winner of the Eliminator in order to grab the other spot in the final. This is incredibly interesting because Bengaluru will not only be missing out on hosting playoff matches but also the blockbuster final.
"Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the TATA IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case. Bengaluru was originally designated to host the Final. However, owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI's established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned," the board said in its statement.
IPL 2026 Playoffs:
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