Free Tickets Announced as Hockey India League 2025–26 Set to Begin

New Delhi, Dec 2025: In a major boost for hockey fans across the country, Hockey India on Thursday announced that tickets for the upcoming men’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26, scheduled to begin on January 3 in Chennai, are now live and will be available free of cost. The decision aims to attract larger crowds and further popularise the sport by making top-level hockey accessible to everyone.

The Women’s Hockey India League will kick off earlier, starting on December 28 in Ranchi and concluding on January 10. The men’s competition will follow a multi-city format, beginning in Chennai on January 3, moving to Ranchi from January 11, and concluding with the final leg in Bhubaneswar — widely regarded as the cradle of Indian hockey — from January 17 to January 26.

This season’s HIL promises high-quality action with an expanded and refreshed structure. The league will feature eight men’s teams and four women’s teams, bringing together a strong mix of Indian and international players. Both competitions will be played in newly revamped formats designed to deliver fast-paced, entertaining matches and sustained excitement throughout the month-long tournament.

Ticket sales for the Ranchi leg of the HIL had already gone live earlier this week, and Hockey India reiterated its commitment to ensuring that fans from different regions can experience elite hockey up close. By keeping entry free across all venues — Chennai, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar — the federation hopes to strengthen the grassroots fanbase and encourage families, students and young players to attend matches in large numbers.

Hockey India League governing committee chairperson Dilip Tirkey said the initiative reflects the federation’s broader vision of growing the sport nationwide. “We have once again decided to offer free tickets for hockey fans to come and enjoy all the matches across Chennai, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar. While the women’s matches will be held in Ranchi, the men’s HIL will be played across three cities. Our goal is to fill the stands with fans who want to see their favourite stars in action,” he said.

Tirkey also highlighted the international appeal of the league, noting that several world-class players will feature this season. “We will have some of the world’s top players on display, and we are excited to witness a month of thrilling, high-quality hockey,” he added.

Echoing similar views, HIL governing committee member Bhola Nath Singh described the tournament as a festival for hockey lovers. “Hero HIL will be a month-long celebration of hockey. We invite fans from across the country to join us in celebrating #hockeykajashn. One of our key objectives has been to expand the fanbase across regions, and we are confident of seeing packed stadiums throughout the season,” he said.

With free entry, multiple host cities and a strong lineup of teams and players, the Hockey India League 2025–26 is set to offer an inclusive and vibrant platform for the sport, reinforcing hockey’s growing appeal among Indian sports fans.

Team Maverick.