LPL 2026 Schedule (Source: AFP)In a significant development, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on Monday, May 18, announced announced the full and final schedule of the 2026 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The LPL 2026 will be held from July 17 to August 8.It is worth noting that, fresh off hosting its inaugural game under floodlights at the 2026 T20 World Cup, the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo is set to host the opening match of the LPL 2026, making its debut as a venue for the Sri Lankan T20 league. As confirmed by the apex body of cricket in Sri Lanka, the LPL window marks a return to the tournament’s familiar mid-year slot. Notably, the edition was previously scheduled for late 2025, with provisional dates fixed for November 27 to December 23 last year. Nonetheless, SLC later revealed that the postponement was a strategic decision to ensure that its venues were fully prepared for the men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which Sri Lanka co-hosted with India in February and March. The LPL was then proposed to be held in early March, shortly after the World Cup, but those dates came and went. Lanka Premier League Returns After Two Years; LPL 2026 Schedule Announced<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->DateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDay Match (3:00 pm)SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableNight Match (7:30 pm)SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableVenueSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableFri, Jul 17SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableOpening CeremonySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableJaffna vs GalleSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSSCSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete 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TableDambullaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableTue, Jul 28SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table—SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableColombo vs JaffnaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableKandySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWed, Jul 29SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableGalle vs KandySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableColombo vs DambullaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableKandySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableThu, Jul 30SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table—SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableJaffna vs KandySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableKandySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSat, Aug 1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table—SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableColombo vs GalleSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableKandySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSun, Aug 2SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table—SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableJaffna vs DambullaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableKandySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWed, Aug 5SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableQualifier 1 (1 VS 2)SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableEliminator (3 VS 4)SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRPICSSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableFri, Aug 7SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableQualifier 2 (Looser QF1 vs Winner Eliminator) SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRPICSSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSat, Aug 8SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableFinalSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRPICSSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSun, Aug 9SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRain Reserve DaySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRPICSLPL 2026 Teams and Venues The 2026 edition of the Lanka Premier League features five franchises competing in a tournament that runs from July 17 to August 8. The teams for the 2026 season are:Colombo Strikers, Dambulla Sixers, Galle Marvels, Jaffna Kings, Kandy Falcons.Moreover, the latest announcement marks the first time the tournament will be held at four venues, with SSC becoming the second Colombo venue alongside the R Premadasa Stadium. Pallekele and Dambulla are the other two venues. Here’s the full list of stadiums hosting the sixth season of the Lanka Premier League: 1. Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo (opening matches)2. R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo (playoffs and finals)3. Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium (RDICS) in Dambulla4. Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (PICS) in KandyThe bizarre LPL 2026 draft rules that caught attention for all the wrong reasonsEarlier, Sri Lanka Cricket had published the player category qualification criteria ahead of the sixth season of the LPL, and the document covers six distinct categories: Icon, Star, Gold, Classic, Associate Stars, and Local Emerging U23 players. However, one bizarre condition stood out for all the wrong reasons. Both the Icon and Star categories shared the same social media rules, which required a following exceeding 250,000 and were considered essential alongside a large fan base and commercial appeal.Moreover, the Gold category sets the bar slightly lower at 150,000 followers. The Classic and Associate Stars categories list fan base and commercial appeal as requirements, but stop short of assigning numerical ratings.The Local Emerging U23 category, reserved for Sri Lankan players under 23 who were born after July 1, 2003, has no such social media clause.Whereas, cricketing eligibility requires that icon players must have played 75 T20 internationals, over 100 franchise T20 matches, and at least 30 matches in the past 18 months. Whereas, Star players require 50 T20Is, over 100 franchise games, and 30 matches in the last 18 months.However, it has been reported that the condition was revoked following significant online backlash.Also read: BCCI Drags Itself Out Of Coming Under Indian Government
