There is a certain magic to the first ball of an IPL season. The stadium lights blazing, 30,000 people on their feet, and a bowler charging in. This year, that magic ignites on March 28 in Bengaluru, at a ground that has spent the past twelve months carrying the weight of grief and scrutiny in equal measure.
IPL 2026 venues tell a story that goes well beyond cricket. Thirteen stadiums. Ten cities. A tournament expanded to 84 matches, the biggest edition in history. Three franchises are playing home games in two different cities. A safety inspection will decide whether the season's opening match even happens at its announced ground. And elections in three states are quietly dictating the tournament's calendar in the background.
This is not just a fixture list. It is a map of India's obsession with cricket, drawn afresh every spring.
IPL 2026 Venues
| # | Stadium | City | Home Team | Capacity | Pitch Behaviour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru | RCB (Primary) | 35,000 | Batting-friendly |
| 2 | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | MI (Primary) | 33,000 | Pace-friendly, dew factor |
| 3 | MA Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | CSK (Primary) | 33,500 | Spin-friendly, slow surface |
| 4 | Eden Gardens | Kolkata | KKR (Primary) | 68,000 | Balanced, dew in evenings |
| 5 | Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | GT (Primary) | 1,32,000 | True surface, large outfield |
| 6 | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi | DC (Primary) | 55,000 | Balanced, mid-over spin |
| 7 | Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium | Hyderabad | SRH (Primary) | 55,000 | Pace and bounce |
| 8 | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow | LSG (Primary) | 50,000 | Batting-first advantage |
| 9 | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Intl. Stadium | Mullanpur | PBKS (Primary) | 38,000 | Batting-friendly |
| 10 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur | RR (Primary) | 25,000 | Balanced, late turn |
| 11 | Barsapara Cricket Stadium | Guwahati | RR (Secondary) | 40,000 | Pace, true bounce |
| 12 | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Intl. Stadium | Naya Raipur | RCB (Secondary) | 65,000 | Batting-friendly, true carry |
| 13 | HPCA Stadium | Dharamsala | PBKS (Secondary) | 23,000 | Swing-friendly |
All 13 IPL 2026 Stadiums Explained
1. M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (RCB Home Ground)
Chinnaswamy Stadium is simultaneously the most anticipated and most uncertain venue on the calendar. It hosts the tournament opener, RCB versus SRH on March 28, and the final on May 31. But the ground has not seen top-flight cricket since a stampede during RCB's 2025 title celebrations claimed 11 lives. A Karnataka government Expert Committee was scheduled to inspect the stadium on March 13, 2026, and every Bengaluru fixture hinges on that clearance. Capacity has already been reduced from 38,000 to 35,000 as a direct consequence of new safety protocols.
It is a ground soaked in T20 history, with over 99 IPL matches played there, and one that bowlers have always dreaded. Short square boundaries, flat pitches, and totals north of 200 appear with alarming regularity. But this season, Chinnaswamy carries an emotional weight that no other venue does. Defending champions RCB will play 5 of their 7 home matches here, with the remaining 2 shifted to Raipur.
The Chinnaswamy pitch is a nightmare for bowlers and a paradise for batters. Totals of 200-plus are almost routine here. Fantasy players, take note.
2. Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (MI Home Ground)
Wankhede Stadium has hosted more IPL matches than anywhere else on earth, over 125 since the inaugural season in 2008. It is where pace bowling matters early, where evening dew tilts games towards the team chasing, and where the energy of South Mumbai finds its purest expression. Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians open at home against the Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29.
Short boundaries make it another batter-friendly venue, so expect fireworks when MI host the defending champions RCB in the last match of the first phase. The dew factor in evening matches tends to help the chasing team significantly, making toss decisions a regular talking point at this ground.
Capacity: 33,000 | Established: 1974 | Location: South Mumbai, Marine Drive area
3. MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (CSK Home Ground)
One of the oldest cricket grounds in India, Chepauk was established back in 1916 and remains CSK's fortress. The pitch here is the polar opposite of Chinnaswamy. Slow, low, and abrasive, it is the most spin-friendly surface in the IPL, which perfectly suits CSK's traditionally spin-heavy bowling lineup.
Down in Chennai, the MA Chidambaram Stadium operates on entirely different logic from the batting havens elsewhere. Defending totals have historically been more viable here compared to most other IPL venues. Led by captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK will look to leverage home conditions after a disappointing 10th-place finish in IPL 2025. Tamil Nadu's state elections are also a variable to watch for scheduling here.
Capacity: 33,500 | Established: 1916 | IPL matches hosted: 91+
4. Eden Gardens, Kolkata (KKR Home Ground)
Eden Gardens is the oldest cricket stadium in India, built in 1864, with a roar that has broken opposition teams long before the first ball is bowled. KKR's 68,000-capacity home is the loudest venue in the IPL, and Ajinkya Rahane's side, who spent a record Rs 25.20 crore on Cameron Green at the auction, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, will be desperate to convert that atmosphere into results.
The pitch tends to offer early assistance to pace bowlers, with lateral movement during the powerplay before settling into a more balanced surface. Dew plays a significant role in evening matches, often tipping the scales in favour of the chasing side. Just bear in mind that West Bengal assembly elections could force date changes for Eden Gardens fixtures.
Capacity: 68,000 | Established: 1864 | IPL matches hosted: 100+
5. Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (GT Home Ground)
There is simply nothing else like the Narendra Modi Stadium. A capacity of 1,32,000 makes it the largest cricket ground on the planet by a considerable distance, and the Gujarat Titans have made it a fortress since their debut in 2022. The pitch offers a genuine batting surface early before slowing down to bring spinners into the picture, and the large outfield and long boundaries mean that brute power alone will not get you far. Technique often wins over sheer hitting here.
Shubman Gill's side hosts the Rajasthan Royals in a double-header on April 4. The ground generally offers a good batting surface in the first innings but tends to slow down as the game progresses.
Capacity: 1,32,000 | Established: 1982 (renovated 2020) | IPL matches hosted: 45+
6. Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi (DC Home Ground)
Formerly called Feroz Shah Kotla, the Arun Jaitley Stadium is the second-oldest cricket ground in India, established in 1883. The surface here offers a balanced contest between bat and ball. Spin tends to come into play during the middle overs, while dew in the evenings makes chasing a slightly preferred option.
Delhi Capitals, led by captain Axar Patel, will host Mumbai Indians in the first double-header afternoon match on April 4. The ground's long history and central Delhi location make it one of the most recognisable venues on the circuit.
Capacity: 55,000 | Established: 1883 | IPL matches hosted: 97+
7. Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad (SRH Home Ground)
Located in Uppal, the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is where Sunrisers Hyderabad welcome their opponents. The pitch here offers pace and bounce, making it a ground where fast bowlers can be genuinely threatening. SRH, captained by Australian skipper Pat Cummins, will face defending champions RCB in the very first match of the tournament at Chinnaswamy before returning home for their Hyderabad fixtures.
Dew is also a factor here in evening games, creating even contests between bat and ball. The ground opened in 2012 and has already hosted over 83 IPL matches.
Capacity: 55,000 | Established: 2012 | IPL matches hosted: 83+
8. Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow (LSG Home Ground)
One of the newer IPL venues, the Ekana Cricket Stadium, has quickly become a quality venue for T20 cricket. The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has rapidly grown into a quality T20 venue since its IPL debut, and with Rishabh Pant at the helm, LSG have genuine title aspirations. The surface here tends to favour teams batting first, with the pitch offering true bounce early before becoming slower as the game progresses.
Lucknow Super Giants will host Delhi Capitals in their opening fixture during the first phase. With a capacity of around 50,000, the atmosphere here has grown each season and is now firmly established as a strong home ground. The pitch tends to reward teams batting first, a useful edge when you know the conditions well.
Capacity: 50,000 | Established: 2017 | IPL matches hosted: 22+
9. Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur (PBKS Primary Venue)
Also commonly referred to as the PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh, this is one of the newest stadiums on the IPL circuit. Punjab Kings, captained by Shreyas Iyer, will play 4 of their 7 home matches here, with the remaining 3 shifted to Dharamsala. The pitch has shown a slight batting-first advantage so far, though the sample size is still small with only 11 IPL matches hosted here to date.
PBKS will open their season at this ground against the Gujarat Titans. The stadium only opened in 2021 and is still building its identity as an IPL venue.
Capacity: 38,000 | Established: 2021 | IPL matches hosted: 11+
10. Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur (RR Primary Venue)
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur is the original home of the Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural IPL champions. RR are scheduled to play 4 home matches here during the season, with the remaining 3 taking place in Guwahati. The pitch generally starts as a good batting surface before offering turn as the game progresses, making it a balanced venue overall.
This season, Riyan Parag takes over as captain from Sanju Samson, who was traded to CSK in a headline-grabbing pre-season swap that also saw Ravindra Jadeja move in the opposite direction. Jaipur fixtures will be part of the second phase schedule, which is yet to be announced.
Capacity: 25,000 | Location: Pink City, Jaipur
11. Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati (RR Secondary Venue)
The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati serves as the Rajasthan Royals' alternate home ground and has become a regular IPL venue in recent seasons. Guwahati's Barsapara Stadium is becoming a regular and beloved fixture on the IPL circuit. Its surface offers true pace and bounce, Assam's fan base is passionate and growing, and like Chennai and Kolkata, its schedule hinges partly on state election timings.
RR will kick off their entire IPL 2026 campaign from Guwahati, hosting CSK and MI in their first three home fixtures here. The CSK vs RR clash here is particularly compelling, as Jadeja and Samson will face their former teams for the first time since the trade. Guwahati fixtures may also be subject to changes due to the Assam assembly elections.
Capacity: 40,000 | Location: Barsapara, Guwahati, Assam
12. Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Naya Raipur (RCB Secondary Venue)
This Raipur-based stadium steps in as RCB's secondary venue for IPL 2026, hosting 2 of their 7 home matches. The move gives fans in Chhattisgarh a rare opportunity to watch top-level IPL cricket in their city. Raipur's Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium provides Chhattisgarh with what are essentially premium viewing windows, a 65,000-capacity venue hosting RCB, the defending champions, for two matches.
The pitch here generally favours batting, with true bounce and even carry making it a ground where stroke-makers can thrive. It is a batting-friendly surface with good carry, meaning it should produce entertaining cricket.
Capacity: 65,000 | Location: Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh
13. HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala (PBKS Secondary Venue)
If there is one IPL venue that wins the beauty contest every single year, it is Dharamsala. Punjab Kings' secondary venue, Dharamsala, is a different proposition entirely. The HPCA Stadium is perched in the Kangra Valley with the snow-dusted Dhauladhar mountain range as a permanent backdrop, arguably the most beautiful cricket ground on earth. At just 23,000 seats, it is also the smallest venue in the tournament, but what it lacks in size it more than compensates for with atmosphere and swing-friendly conditions that fast bowlers absolutely relish.
Punjab Kings will play 3 of their 7 home matches here this season. The altitude and cool mountain air make conditions swing-friendly, especially in the early overs. Fast bowlers absolutely love this ground, so teams relying heavily on spin might find it tricky here. With just 23,000 capacity, it is the smallest IPL venue this season, but the atmosphere punches well above its size.
Capacity: 23,000 | Location: Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Split Home Grounds in IPL 2026
One of the defining structural features of IPL 2026 is that three franchises will split their home fixtures between two venues. It is worth understanding exactly how this plays out.
- RCB: 5 home games at Chinnaswamy (Bengaluru) + 2 at Naya Raipur
- PBKS: 4 home games at Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) + 3 at Dharamsala
- RR: 4 home games at Jaipur + 3 at Guwahati (season opens in Guwahati)
For Rajasthan Royals, this split comes with a dramatic subplot. Their Guwahati fixtures include matches against CSK and MI, and this is where Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson will face their former clubs for the first time since the headline-grabbing pre-season trade that sent both players in opposite directions. Riyan Parag, meanwhile, steps into the captaincy at Jaipur, one of the tournament's more intimate grounds at just 25,000 capacity.
Chinnaswamy Safety Concerns and Capacity Change
The Karnataka government has set up an Expert Committee to assess match-day readiness at Chinnaswamy after the 2025 stampede tragedy that claimed 11 lives during RCB's title celebrations. A full-scale mock demonstration was scheduled for March 13, 2026, and all Bengaluru fixtures depend on this clearance. Capacity has been reduced from 38,000 to 35,000 due to new safety protocols.
IPL 2026 Schedule and Election Impact
Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu have forced the BCCI to release the schedule in phases. Only the first 20 matches from March 28 to April 12 have been announced so far, with the rest to follow once poll dates are confirmed. It is a neat illustration of how closely cricket and the rhythms of Indian political life are intertwined.
Beyond the individual venues, the macro picture for IPL 2026 is worth absorbing. The tournament has expanded to 84 matches, up from 74 last season, making this the largest edition in the competition's history. The window runs from March 28 to May 31, covering two months of Indian summer cricket.
IPL 2026 Match Timings and Broadcast Details
All evening matches begin at 7:30 PM IST. Afternoon double-header games kick off at 3:30 PM IST. You can watch on the Star Sports network on television, or stream live via JioHotstar.
Thirteen IPL 2026 venues. From the emotional intensity of a Chinnaswamy still coming to terms with last year's tragedy, to the jaw-dropping scale of Ahmedabad, to the Himalayan serenity of Dharamsala, each ground brings its own flavour to what promises to be the richest, most expansive IPL season yet.
Also Read: IPL 2026 Schedule: Dates, Venues and Match Timings
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