Explainer | Why Ahmedabad and not Bengaluru will host 2026 IPL final

The BCCI has made a major change to the IPL 2026 playoffs schedule, shifting the final from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad despite Royal Challengers Bengaluru entering the season as defending champions. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will now host the IPL 2026 final on May 31, marking the fourth time the venue will stage the title clash. The Board of Control for Cricket in India stated that the decision was taken due to “operational and logistical considerations” and cited certain requirements from local authorities in Bengaluru that were beyond BCCI protocols. Bengaluru also missed out on hosting any playoff fixture, with Qualifier 1 scheduled in Dharamsala and both the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 set to be played in New Chandigarh.