While the final will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala will host the Qualifier 1 on May 26 and New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh will stage the Eliminator (May 27) and Qualifier 2 (May 29).

“Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the TATA IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case,” the statement said.

In IPL 2025, the knockouts were held in two venues, with New Chandigarh hosting Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator and Ahmedabad the Qualifier 2 and the final.

This year’s set-up theoretically gives a bigger advantage to the winner of Qualifier 1. Qualifier 2 is usually played at the same venue as the final, whereas this year the winner of Qualifier 2, like the winner of Qualifier 1, will have to travel to a new venue for the final.

Usually the defending champions host the title clash, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will not have the home advantage should they get there. RCB have played five matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season, winning four, with their only defeat coming against Delhi Capitals (DC) last month. RCB will play their final two league games in Raipur. They are currently second on the points table, with 12 points in nine games, and are well-placed to qualify for the knockouts.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are currently on top of the table with 13 points in nine matches. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) are level with RCB on 12 points. After the win against DC on Tuesday, Chennai Super Kings stayed in sixth place on the points table but were only two points behind the four teams ranked from second to fifth.