The biggest league in franchise cricket is back for its 19th season, with the Indian Premier League set to showcase the best white-ball players on the planet over the next few months.

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It feels like the dust has barely settled on India's T20 World Cup win but the fast-moving cricket calendar means fans don't have to wait long for their next taste of the sport's most explosive format – with big-hitting batters, ferocious fast bowlers, and scheming spinners set to take centre stage once again.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended their long wait for a first title last year after talisman Virat Kohli top-scored to help them beat Punjab Kings by six runs in a nail-biting final.

Having kept much of their title-winning squad together, RCB will be eyeing another triumph but face some serious competition in the likes of Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants.

The stage is set for another rollercoaster season in the IPL – with the full fixture list finally confirmed. Fans in the UK will be treated to extensive live coverage of every single game from the season-opener all the way through to the final.

Radio Times brings you all the details about how to watch the IPL 2026.

When is the IPL 2026 season?

The IPL 2026 season kicks off on Saturday 28 March 2026 and runs until the final on Sunday 31 May 2026.

The play-offs start with Qualifier 1 on Tuesday 26 May 2026.

The full Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad celebrates winning the IPL 2025 title, with fireworks going off behind them and "CHAMPIONS" in big letters on the stage.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025 title. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

How to watch the IPL 2026 on TV and live stream

You can watch the IPL 2026 live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event.

Sky Sports can be added to any Sky TV package for just £22 per month for all nine sports channels, or you can pick up the complete sports package plus Netflix for £35 per month.

Sky Sports customers can live stream the tournament via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices including most smartphones and tablets as part of their subscription.

You can also watch the action via NOW with a day membership (£14.99) or month membership (£34.99).

NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via TNT Sports.

IPL 2026 schedule

All UK time. All live on Sky Sports and NOW.

Only the start of the schedule and dates have been announced so far. This page will be updated with the full schedule when it is available.

Regular season

Saturday 28 March

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Sunrisers Hyderabad (2pm)

Sunday 29 March

  • Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders (3pm)

Monday 30 March

  • Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings (3pm)

Tuesday 31 March

  • Punjab Kings v Gujarat Titans (3pm)

Wednesday 1 April

  • Lucknow Super Giants v Delhi Capitals (3pm)

Thursday 2 April

  • Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad (3pm)

Friday 3 April

  • Chennai Super Kings v Punjab Kings (3pm)

Saturday 4 April

  • Delhi Capitals v Mumbai Indians (11am)
  • Gujarat Titans v Rajasthan Royals (3pm)

Sunday 5 April

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad v Lucknow Super Giants (11am)
  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Chennai Super Kings (3pm)

Monday 6 April

  • Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings (3pm)

Tuesday 7 April

  • Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians (3pm)

Wednesday 8 April

  • Delhi Capitals v Gujarat Titans (3pm)

Thursday 9 April

  • Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants (3pm)

Friday 10 April

  • Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bengaluru (3pm)

Saturday 11 April

  • Punjab Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad (11am)
  • Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Capitals (3pm)

Sunday 12 April

  • Lucknow Super Giants v Gujarat Titans (11am)
  • Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bengaluru (3pm)

Monday 13 April

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals (3pm)

Tuesday 14 April

  • Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders (3pm)

Wednesday 15 April

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Lucknow Super Giants (3pm)

Thursday 16 April

  • Mumbai Indians v Punjab Kings (3pm)

Friday 17 April

  • Gujarat Titans v Kolkata Knight Riders (3pm)

Saturday 18 April

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Delhi Capitals (11am)
  • Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings (3pm)

Sunday 19 April

  • Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals (11am)
  • Punjab Kings v Lucknow Super Giants (3pm)

Monday 20 April

  • Gujarat Titans v Mumbai Indians (3pm)

Tuesday 21 April

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad v Delhi Capitals (3pm)

Wednesday 22 April

  • Lucknow Super Giants v Rajasthan Royals (3pm)

Thursday 23 April

  • Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings (3pm)

Friday 24 April

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Gujarat Titans (3pm)

Saturday 25 April

  • Delhi Capitals v Punjab Kings (11am)
  • Rajasthan Royals v Sunrisers Hyderabad (3pm)

Sunday 26 April

  • Gujarat Titans v Chennai Super Kings (11am)
  • Lucknow Super Giants v Kolkata Knight Riders (3pm)

Monday 27 April

  • Delhi Capitals v Royal Challengers Bengaluru (3pm)

Tuesday 28 April

  • Punjab Kings v Rajasthan Royals (3pm)

Wednesday 29 April

  • Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderabad (3pm)

Thursday 30 April

  • Gujarat Titans v Royal Challengers Bengaluru (3pm)

Friday 1 May

  • Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Capitals (3pm)

Saturday 2 May

  • Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians (3pm)

Sunday 3 May

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders (11am)
  • Gujarat Titans v Punjab Kings (3pm)

Monday 4 May

  • Mumbai Indians v Lucknow Super Giants (3pm)

Tuesday 5 May

  • Delhi Capitals v Chennai Super Kings (3pm)

Wednesday 6 May

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad v Punjab Kings (11am)

Thursday 7 May

  • Lucknow Super Giants v Royal Challengers Bengaluru (3pm)

Friday 8 May

  • Delhi Capitals v Kolkata Knight Riders (3pm)

Saturday 9 May

  • Rajasthan Royals v Gujarat Titans (3pm)

Sunday 10 May

  • Chennai Super Kings v Lucknow Super Giants (11am)
  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Mumbai Indians (3pm)

Monday 11 May

  • Punjab Kings v Delhi Capitals (3pm)

Tuesday 12 May

  • Gujarat Titans v Sunrisers Hyderabad (3pm)

Wednesday 13 May

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Kolkata Knight Riders (3pm)

Thursday 14 May

  • Punjab Kings v Mumbai Indians (3pm)

Friday 15 May

  • Lucknow Super Giants v Chennai Super Kings (3pm)

Saturday 16 May

  • Kolkata Knight Riders v Gujarat Titans (3pm)

Sunday 17 May

  • Punjab Kings v Royal Challengers Bengaluru (11am)
  • Delhi Capitals v Rajasthan Royals (3pm)

Monday 18 May

  • Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad (3pm)

Tuesday 19 May

  • Rajasthan Royals v Lucknow Super Giants (3pm)

Wednesday 20 May

  • Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians (3pm)

Thursday 21 May

  • Chennai Super Kings v Gujarat Titans (3pm)

Friday 22 May

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bengaluru (11am)

Saturday 23 May

  • Lucknow Super Giants v Punjab Kings (3pm)

Sunday 24 May

  • Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals (11am)
  • Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Capitals (3pm)

Qualifier 1

Tuesday 26 May

  • TBC v TBC (TBC)

Eliminator

Wednesday 27 May

  • TBC v TBC (TBC)

Qualifier 2

Friday 29 May

  • TBC v TBC (TBC)

Final

Sunday 31 May

  • TBC v TBC (TBC)
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