Indian Premier League champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will open the 2026 season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the schedule for the initial phase of the tournament, running from March 28 to April 12. This partial release is due to upcoming State Assembly elections in three states; the full schedule will be published once poll dates are confirmed.
Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, start their campaign at home against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29. Chennai Super Kings, also five-time winners, begin their season on March 30, traveling to face Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.
Matches in Bengaluru are contingent on clearance from a Karnataka government-nominated expert committee. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted fans since an incident in June where 11 people died during celebrations of RCB's maiden IPL title outside the venue. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are scheduled to play five home games in Bengaluru and two in Raipur this season.
A BCCI statement indicated the committee will inspect the stadium on March 13, 2026, to assess its readiness for hosting IPL matches, including a mock demonstration of match-day arrangements. The IPL 2026 season is set to run from March 28 to May 31.