IPL 2026 double-header weekends schedule: confirmed dates, matches, times and venues
The IPL 2026 double-header weekends schedule is now clearly mapped across four confirmed double-header days in the opening 20 matches, split between April 4-5 and April 11-12, 2026. Those are the only fully confirmed double-header weekends in the early phase right now, and they give the first clean read on how the season is being staggered.
After that opening block, the league stage continues from April 13 to May 24, 2026, with eight more double-headers in the second phase, according to The Federal. The full IPL 2026 schedule spans 12 cities across India, while playoff venues will be announced later.
Quick summary of the confirmed double-header weekends
| Weekend | Number of Matches | Teams Involved | Venues | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4-5, 2026 | 4 | DC vs MI; GT vs RR; SRH vs LSG; RCB vs CSK | Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru | Two double-header days in the opening 20 matches |
| Apr 11-12, 2026 | 4 | PBKS vs SRH; CSK vs DC; LSG vs GT; MI vs RCB | Mohali, Chennai, Lucknow, Mumbai | Second confirmed double-header weekend in the opening phase |
Confirmed double-header weekends in IPL 2026
| Date | Match | Start Time IST | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Apr 4, 2026 | Match 8: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | 3:30 PM | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi |
| Sat Apr 4, 2026 | Match 9: Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM | Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad |
| Sun Apr 5, 2026 | Match 10: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | 3:30 PM | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | Hyderabad |
| Sun Apr 5, 2026 | Match 11: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru |
| Sat Apr 11, 2026 | Match 17: Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3:30 PM | IS Bindra Stadium | Mohali |
| Sat Apr 11, 2026 | Match 18: Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai |
| Sun Apr 12, 2026 | Match 19: Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | 3:30 PM | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow |
| Sun Apr 12, 2026 | Match 20: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai |
How the schedule pattern fits together
The structure is straightforward: two double-header weekends in early April, then the league shifts into the April 13-May 24 block, where eight more double-headers are scheduled across 12 venues. That makes the opening 20 matches the clearest verified double-header pattern available in the corpus.
For readers tracking the calendar, the confirmed early run is concentrated on April 4-5 and April 11-12. After that, the remaining league-stage fixtures take over, with playoff venues still to be announced by the tournament.
Takeaway
The key takeaway from the IPL 2026 double-header weekends schedule is simple: the first 20 matches contain the only fully confirmed double-header pattern right now, and it comes in back-to-back weekends on April 4-5 and April 11-12. The later phase adds more double-headers, but this early-April block is the verified weekend roadmap for the season so far.