IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad; Mullanpur and Dharamsala to host playoffs as Bengaluru loses out

New Delhi: The final of the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League is set to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, TOI has learnt. The likely dates for the playoffs are May 26 (Qualifier 1), May 27 (Eliminator) and May 29 (Qualifier 2). The playoffs will be played in Mullanpur and Dharamsala.

The decision to host the IPL title clash in Ahmedabad, not Bengaluru, goes against the convention of the final being played at the home of the reigning champions. In this case, the final should have been played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, home of last year's title winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru. "Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case," said an IPL statement.

"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," it continued. It is understood that the ongoing administrative mess regarding the tickets at the Chinnaswamy Stadium forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India to shift the title clash back to the venue that hosted the 2025 edition's final.

Even last year, the IPL final was moved from Kolkata's Eden Gardens to Ahmedabad due to weather forecast and 2026's title clash is going to be the fourth at that venue in last five years. Chennai hosted the final between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024. The IPL is now entering the business end with as many as seven teams in contention for a playoffs berth.