IPL 2026 playoffs schedule announced; Ahmedabad to host final
New Delhi, May 6
The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday announced the schedule for the Indian Premier League 2026 Playoffs, marking the culmination of another exhilarating season.
According to the IPL statement, after 70 high-intensity league-stage matches defined by outstanding performances and edge-of-the-seat moments, the tournament now enters its decisive phase.
Qualifier 1, featuring the top two teams in the standings, will be played on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, with a direct berth in the Final at stake.
The action will then move to the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, which will host the Eliminator on May 27 between the third and fourth-placed teams.
The same venue will also stage Qualifier 2 on May 29, where the loser of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator to determine the second finalist.
The season will conclude with the Grand Final on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad--the world's largest cricket stadium--setting the stage for a spectacular finale, the statement said.
Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case.
The IPL statement further said, "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."
Playoffs Schedule:
Qualifier 1 - May 26 - HPCA Stadium, DharamshalaEliminator - May 27 - New International Cricket Stadium, New ChandigarhQualifier 2 - May 29 - New International Cricket Stadium, New ChandigarhFinal--May 31--Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
— ANI
Reader Comments
New Chandigarh stadium hosting the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 - that's great for the region! Hope the pitch there is better than some of the recent ones we've seen. And Ahmedabad for the final makes sense - that stadium is massive, even if it's a bit far from the other venues.
70 league matches and now we're down to these playoffs. The race for top 4 has been insane this season. Really disappointed Bengaluru lost the final - apparently it was because of some local government issues? Classic case of politics over cricket. But Dharamshala in May should be beautiful weather-wise.
As a Bangalore fan, this is so frustrating. We were promised the final, and now it's taken away because of "operational considerations"? Come on BCCI, at least be transparent about what really happened. Nevertheless, the playoffs schedule looks exciting - Qualifier 1 will be 🔥
I'm just happy they're using multiple venues - gives different cities a chance to host. The HPCA stadium in Dharamshala is one of the most scenic grounds in the world. And New Chandigarh getting two matches is a big boost for cricket in Punjab. Final in Ahmedabad - well, Modi's home turf, so no surprises there. 🏏
As someone from the US who's been following IPL, this is a smart move. Dharamshala for the high-pressure Qualifier 1, then the new stadium in Chandigarh for the eliminator matches, and the world's largest stadium for the final. They're really spreading the love. Hope the pitch in Chandigarh is batting-friendly!
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