GoKawiilWhen to watch the IPL 2026
The 2026 Indian Premier League season runs from Saturday, March 28, until Sunday, May 31.
Where to watch the IPL 2026
Indian Premier League matches will air in the US on Willow TV.
The 19th edition of the world's richest cricket tournament gets underway this weekend, with Virat Kohli's defending champs Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening game of the new Indian Premier League season on Saturday.
Among the big talking points in the run-up to the new campaign is Kolkata Knight Riders' heavy investment in Cameron Green. The Australian all-rounder became the most expensive overseas signing in IPL history after being bought for $2.7 million by KKR in the 2026 auction. Chennai Super Kings will meanwhile be hoping for a huge improvement after their worst-ever season in 2025, with Ruturaj Gaikwad taking over as captain from MS Dhoni.
The 2026 edition of the IPL also looks set to herald the arrival of a new cricketing superstar, with 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi widely tipped to shine for Rajasthan Royals.
Elsewhere, the new term brings a slight format change, with a modified group stage where teams now play opponents from their own group once and the opposite group twice.
The 2026 Indian Premier League season starts on Saturday, March 28, with the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and ends with the final on Sunday, May 31. A full schedule can be found on the official Indian Premier League website.
Virat Kohli led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-run win over the Punjab Kings in last year's final. It was their first IPL title. Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images
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