IPL 2026 opening day schedule and what we know
IPL 2026 opens on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at 7:30 PM IST at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. This is the IPL 2026 season opener.
The IPL 2026 schedule is out, and the first 20 matches are confirmed. That gives fans an early look at the tournament start, beginning with the opener and the next few fixtures.
Confirmed opening fixtures
| Match | Date | Time (IST) | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Match 2 | Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Match 3 | Monday, March 30, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Jaipur |
| Match 4 | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | Mohali |
| Match 5 | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Lucknow |
The next confirmed fixture after the opener is Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 7:30 PM IST at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
These are the first five confirmed fixtures, starting with the season opener.