BCCI Announces IPL 2026 Playoff Ticket Sales from May 20

New Delhi, May 2026 : Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced that ticket sales for the playoffs of the Indian Premier League 2026 season will begin from May 20, with District by Zomato appointed as the official ticketing partner for the knockout stage of the tournament.

The cricket board said fans will be able to purchase tickets through the official IPL website as well as the District by Zomato platform. The BCCI has introduced a staggered ticket sale schedule aimed at ensuring smoother access for spectators while also providing early booking benefits to RuPay cardholders.

According to the schedule announced by the board, RuPay Credit Card users will receive an exclusive 24-hour priority booking window for the first two playoff matches — Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator.

Qualifier 1 is scheduled to be played on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, while the Eliminator will take place on May 27 at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.

The exclusive priority booking access for these two matches will begin on May 20.

Similarly, RuPay cardholders will also receive early access for Qualifier 2 and the IPL 2026 Final starting May 22. Qualifier 2 is scheduled for May 29 in New Chandigarh, while the final will be played on May 31 at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, currently regarded as the world’s largest cricket stadium.

Following the completion of the priority booking phase, ticket sales for the general public will commence in phases. Tickets for Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator will become available to all fans from May 21, while bookings for Qualifier 2 and the Final will open on May 23.

The BCCI said the arrangement was designed to streamline ticket purchases and improve the overall booking experience for cricket fans during the high-demand playoff stage.

Meanwhile, the race for the IPL 2026 playoffs remains intense with only one team having officially secured qualification so far. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru confirmed their place in the playoffs after registering a 23-run victory over Punjab Kings.

The remaining three playoff spots are still up for grabs among several franchises, including Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals.

This season’s playoff structure has also introduced a slight logistical twist. Traditionally, Qualifier 2 is played at the same venue as the final, but in IPL 2026 both finalists will travel to Ahmedabad for the title clash.

As a result, the team progressing through Qualifier 2 will also need to adapt to fresh conditions at a new venue before the summit clash, similar to the winner of Qualifier 1.

Team Maverick.