IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches: full match-by-match schedule table
According to the confirmed IPL 2026 fixture list, the opening 20 matches run from Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, April 12, 2026, with games spread across 10 venues and eight double-headers in the first block. This IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches table shows exactly where each game is being played, when it starts in IST, and which grounds repeat early in the season.
| Match No. | Date | Day | Time IST | Teams | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 28, 2026 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru |
| 2 | Mar 29, 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai |
| 3 | Mar 30, 2026 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| 4 | Mar 31, 2026 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | IS Bindra Stadium | Mohali |
| 5 | Apr 1, 2026 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow |
| 6 | Apr 2, 2026 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens | Kolkata |
| 7 | Apr 3, 2026 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai |
| 8 | Apr 4, 2026 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi |
| 9 | Apr 4, 2026 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | Apr 5, 2026 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | Hyderabad |
| 11 | Apr 5, 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru |
| 12 | Apr 6, 2026 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Eden Gardens | Kolkata |
| 13 | Apr 7, 2026 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| 14 | Apr 8, 2026 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi |
| 15 | Apr 9, 2026 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Eden Gardens | Kolkata |
| 16 | Apr 10, 2026 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| 17 | Apr 11, 2026 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | IS Bindra Stadium | Mohali |
| 18 | Apr 11, 2026 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai |
| 19 | Apr 12, 2026 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow |
| 20 | Apr 12, 2026 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai |
Venues that repeat in the opening 20 matches
The IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches also shows a clear repeat pattern at several grounds, with Eden Gardens and Sawai Mansingh Stadium each hosting three games in the first 20. M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Ekana Cricket Stadium, IS Bindra Stadium, M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, and Wankhede Stadium all return for a second appearance.
| Venue | Matches Hosted in First 20 | Match Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | 2 | 1, 11 | Bengaluru hosts the opener and another Sunday night game |
| Eden Gardens | 3 | 6, 12, 15 | Kolkata appears twice in the first week and again on Apr 9 |
| Sawai Mansingh Stadium | 3 | 3, 13, 16 | Jaipur is one of the busiest early venues |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | 2 | 8, 14 | Delhi hosts one afternoon and one evening fixture |
| Ekana Cricket Stadium | 2 | 5, 19 | Lucknow books two Wednesday/Sunday slots |
| IS Bindra Stadium | 2 | 4, 17 | Mohali gets two Saturday fixtures |
| M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | 2 | 7, 18 | Chennai hosts two prime-time games |
| Wankhede Stadium | 2 | 2, 20 | Mumbai opens and closes the first 20-match block |
For readers tracking the wider tournament, the remaining 50 league-stage matches are scheduled from April 13 to May 24, 2026, across 12 venues, while the playoff venues are still to be announced, per the official schedule release. For the full season picture, see IPL 2026 schedule and IPL 2026 venues.
Key takeaway: The first 20 IPL 2026 matches are spread across 10 venues, with Eden Gardens, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, and several other grounds already set for repeat hosting duties.
IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches: repeat venues, double-headers, and opening-phase patterns
The IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches is simple to map: the opening block runs from Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, April 12, spans 20 confirmed fixtures, and uses 10 venues before the league stage shifts into its second phase. According to the BCCI’s schedule release, these are the only confirmed games in the first batch, while the remaining 50 matches run from April 13 to May 24, 2026 across 12 venues.
| Match No. | Date | Day | Time IST | Teams | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 28 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru |
| 2 | Mar 29 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai |
| 3 | Mar 30 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| 4 | Mar 31 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans | IS Bindra Stadium | Mohali |
| 5 | Apr 1 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow |
| 6 | Apr 2 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Eden Gardens | Kolkata |
| 7 | Apr 3 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai |
| 8 | Apr 4 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi |
| 9 | Apr 4 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad |
| 10 | Apr 5 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | Hyderabad |
| 11 | Apr 5 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru |
| 12 | Apr 6 | Mon | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Eden Gardens | Kolkata |
| 13 | Apr 7 | Tue | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| 14 | Apr 8 | Wed | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi |
| 15 | Apr 9 | Thu | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Eden Gardens | Kolkata |
| 16 | Apr 10 | Fri | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur |
| 17 | Apr 11 | Sat | 3:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | IS Bindra Stadium | Mohali |
| 18 | Apr 11 | Sat | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai |
| 19 | Apr 12 | Sun | 3:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow |
| 20 | Apr 12 | Sun | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai |
Where the repeat venues sit in the opening phase
The IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches shows a clear repeat pattern at a handful of grounds, with several stadiums hosting multiple games before mid-April. That matters because it creates early-phase clusters without turning this into a full schedule analysis.
| Venue | Matches Hosted in First 20 | Match Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | 2 | 1, 11 | Bengaluru hosts the opener and another prime-time game |
| Eden Gardens | 3 | 6, 12, 15 | The busiest venue in the first 20 |
| Sawai Mansingh Stadium | 3 | 3, 13, 16 | Jaipur gets three games across the block |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | 2 | 8, 14 | One of the two Delhi fixtures lands on a double-header day |
| Ekana Cricket Stadium | 2 | 5, 19 | Lucknow opens and closes the phase with home games |
| IS Bindra Stadium | 2 | 4, 17 | Mohali appears once in the first week and again on Apr 11 |
| M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | 2 | 7, 18 | Chennai hosts two evening matches |
| Wankhede Stadium | 2 | 2, 20 | Mumbai bookends the block with two marquee nights |
Where the eight double-header days fall
There are eight double-header matches in this opening stretch, all at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM IST on the same day. The double-header dates are April 4, 5, 11, and 12, each with two fixtures, which is useful if you’re tracking ground usage alongside the IPL 2026 schedule.
- Apr 4: Delhi, then Ahmedabad
- Apr 5: Hyderabad, then Bengaluru
- Apr 11: Mohali, then Chennai
- Apr 12: Lucknow, then Mumbai
For readers comparing venues at a glance, this IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches confirms that the opening 20 games are spread across 10 cities, with repeat use concentrated at Eden Gardens, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Wankhede Stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Ekana Cricket Stadium, IS Bindra Stadium, M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, and M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Check the full IPL 2026 fixtures list for the remaining league-stage venues once the second phase continues.
Key takeaway: The first 20 IPL 2026 matches are spread across 10 venues, but repeat use is concentrated at a small set of grounds, with four double-header days driving the busiest travel and scheduling clusters.
IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches: Frequently Asked Questions
The first 20 IPL 2026 matches run from Sat, Mar 28 to Sun, Apr 12, 2026, across 10 venues. According to the confirmed fixture list reported by outlets including ESPN and myKhel, the opening block also includes eight double-headers, so the IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches is as much about timing as it is about ground rotation. Check the full IPL 2026 schedule for the broader league calendar.
How many matches and venues are in the opening block?
There are 20 confirmed matches in the first phase, and they cover all 10 IPL teams. The action is spread across 10 distinct venues, with several stadiums hosting repeat fixtures rather than one-off games.
| Venue | Matches Hosted in First 20 | Match Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 2 | 1, 11 | Opens the tournament and returns on Apr 5 |
| Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 2 | 2, 20 | First and last matches in this block at the venue |
| Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 3 | 3, 13, 16 | One of the busiest grounds in the opening run |
| IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali | 2 | 4, 17 | Hosts one day game and one night game |
| Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 2 | 5, 19 | Reappears on two Sunday fixtures |
| Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 3 | 6, 12, 15 | The most frequent venue in the first 20 |
| M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 3 | 7, 18 | Gets two prime-time slots |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 2 | 8, 14 | Both are evening fixtures |
| Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 1 | 9 | Single appearance in the opening block |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 1 | 10 | Single appearance in the opening block |
Which stadiums repeat most often?
The repeat-venue pattern is clear: Eden Gardens, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, and M. A. Chidambaram Stadium each host three of the first 20 matches. That gives the opening phase a strong cluster of return games at a few familiar grounds, while Ahmedabad and Hyderabad appear only once.
For a match-by-match breakdown, see IPL 2026 first 20 fixtures. For team-specific venue context, compare this with IPL 2026 match timings.
When does the opening block run, and how many double-headers are there?
The opening block starts on March 28, 2026 and runs through April 12, 2026. It includes eight double-header days, with the standard split of 3:30 PM IST and 7:30 PM IST starts on the same date.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2026 | 1 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 29, 2026 | 2 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 30, 2026 | 3 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 4 | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 5 | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 6 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 3, 2026 | 7 | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 4, 2026 | 8 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 3:30 PM |
| Apr 4, 2026 | 9 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 10 | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 11 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 12 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 7, 2026 | 13 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 8, 2026 | 14 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 9, 2026 | 15 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 10, 2026 | 16 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 11, 2026 | 17 | IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali | 3:30 PM |
| Apr 11, 2026 | 18 | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 19 | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 20 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
Key takeaway: The IPL 2026 venues guide first 20 matches shows a 20-game opening block across 10 venues, with Eden Gardens, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, and Chepauk leading the repeat-host list.