NEW DELHI: The league stage of IPL 2026 is nearing its end, and three teams have already sealed their spots in the playoffs. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already qualified, while the race for the fourth and final playoff berth remains wide open.With the league stage drawing to a close, here’s a look at the playoff fixtures, venues, and match dates:The IPL 2026 playoffs will begin on May 26, with the top two teams in the standings facing each other in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The winner of the match will book a direct place in the final.The action will then move to New Chandigarh, where the Eliminator will be played on May 27 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.The loser of the Eliminator will be knocked out of the tournament, while the winner will progress to Qualifier 2 on May 29 at the same venue.In Qualifier 2, the loser of Qualifier 1 will take on the winner of the Eliminator for the remaining place in the final.The IPL 2026 final is scheduled to be held on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with all playoff matches set to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
IPL 2026 playoffs schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2026 (Tuesday) | Qualifier 1 – Team No. 1 vs Team No. 2 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala | 7:30 pm IST |
| 27 May 2026 (Wednesday) | Eliminator – Team No. 3 vs Team No. 4 | New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh | 7:30 pm IST |
| 29 May 2026 (Friday) | Qualifier 2 – Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator | New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh | 7:30 pm IST |
| 31 May 2026 (Sunday) | IPL 2026 Final – Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:30 pm IST |
