Virat Kohli with IPL trophy. Image Credits: AFP
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shared an important update about the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). On Wednesday afternoon, the board confirmed the dates and venues for the playoffs and the final match. Notably, this marks a key moment in the tournament as it moves closer to its conclusion.
Qualifier 1 will take place on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. This match will feature the top two teams from the points table. The winner of this match will directly secure a place in the final. This gives a big advantage to the team that performs well during the league stage.
Mullanpur to host Eliminator and Qualifier 2
The action will then shift to the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. The Eliminator match is scheduled for May 27. This match will be played between the teams that finish third and fourth in the IPL 2026 standings.
The losing team will be knocked out of the tournament, while the winner will get another chance to reach the final.
The same stadium in New Chandigarh will also host Qualifier 2 on May 29. This match will be played between the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator. The team that wins this match will become the second finalist and will compete for the title.
Notably, Dharamshala and New Chandigarh are also linked to Punjab Kings, who were runners-up in the previous season.
It is worth noting that the IPL 2026 season will end with the final match on May 31. This grand event will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This stadium is known as the largest cricket stadium in the world and has hosted several major matches in the past.
BCCI issues official statement
In its statement, the BCCI said, "Following 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."
Also Read: IPL 2026 Final Venue: IPL Final Snatched From RCB's Chinnaswamy Stadium
IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule And Venue:
| Date | Match | Venue |
| May 26 | Qualifier 1 | Dharamsala |
| May 27 | Eliminator | Mullanpur |
| May 29 | Qualifier 2 | Mullanpur |
| May 31 | Final | Ahmedabad |
Narendra Modi Stadium gets fourth final
For the second year in a row, the IPL final will be held in Ahmedabad. In 2025, the final could not be played in Kolkata due to a weather forecast.
It is important to note that the Narendra Modi Stadium has hosted several IPL finals in recent years. This will be the fourth time in five seasons that the final takes place at this venue.
Usually, the final is held at the home ground of the defending champions. In this case, Bengaluru could have hosted the match after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the previous season.
However, the BCCI explained that this was not possible due to certain situations beyond its guidelines and protocols.
Also Read: IPL 2026 Final Venue: IPL Final Snatched From RCB's Chinnaswamy Stadium
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