IPL 2026 Playoffs: Schedule & How to Watch in India

The IPL 2026 playoffs begin on Tuesday, May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad already through to the top four. The fourth qualifier will be decided in the final week of league matches. The grand final is set for Sunday, May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This guide covers the full schedule, broadcast and streaming options, qualified sides, and where Indian fans can follow live markets through the playoff run.

Playoff Schedule

• Qualifier 1 — Tuesday, May 26, HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala (7:30 PM IST). The top two finishers meet, with a direct berth in the final at stake.
• Eliminator — Wednesday, May 27, New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh (7:30 PM IST). Third versus fourth-placed teams; the loser is knocked out.
• Qualifier 2 — Friday, May 29, New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh (7:30 PM IST). The loser of Qualifier 1 faces the winner of the Eliminator to determine the second finalist.
• Final — Sunday, May 31, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (7:30 PM IST).

The toss for each playoff match takes place at 7 PM IST, with the first ball half an hour later.

How to Watch in India

JioHotstar holds the exclusive digital streaming rights for IPL 2026 following the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar earlier this year. Mobile-only plans start at ₹79 per month, with a multi-device plan from ₹149. The premium tier, which removes ads and supports up to four devices, starts at ₹299 per month.

Live television broadcasts are carried on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, and the regional-language channels — Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada — along with their HD counterparts. Both television and digital rights now sit under JioStar’s consolidated ownership.

Following Match Markets

For Indian readers who want to follow live cricket markets alongside the action, PlayGurus (Sponsored — PlayGurus is a licensed operator.) offers INR-denominated playoff markets with UPI deposits and a 100% sports welcome offer for first-time signups. The platform covers all four playoff fixtures with live in-play markets through the final.

Teams Through to the Playoffs

Three teams have secured their place in the top four as of the start of the final league week:

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru — first to qualify after their win over Punjab Kings on May 17.
• Gujarat Titans — booked their place earlier in the week.
• Sunrisers Hyderabad — confirmed after their win over Chennai Super Kings, reaching 16 points.

Rajasthan Royals currently hold the fourth spot following their chase against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur, powered by a Vaibhav Sooryavanshi knock. Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals remain in contention, with the final qualifier slot to be decided in this week’s remaining league matches.

Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants were the first sides eliminated from the race, both after defeats on May 10.

What’s Next

The final at the Narendra Modi Stadium will be the third IPL final hosted in Ahmedabad. With three teams already locked in and a four-way battle for the last qualifier slot, the league stage’s closing week is set to shape the playoff bracket in ways few expected at the start of the season. Full match-by-match coverage continues on our IPL 2026 hub.