The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) basically announced when IPL 2026 playoffs tickets go live , and it was May 18, so just a bit before the big league game CSK vs Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Along with the ticket sale dates, fans also got a much clearer look at the playoff schedule, the stadium names, plus how the booking will work, kind of in one place. The IPL 2026 final itself is set for the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, so yeah that’s the main headline.
Ticket sales for IPL 2026 playoff matches will start from May 20, but still, not everyone gets access straight away. RuPay Credit Card holders will receive early entry for selected matches, through a 24-hour priority window.
For Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, RuPay Credit Cardholders can book tickets from May 20. Meanwhile, the regular ticket sales for these two matches open on May 21. For Qualifier 2 and the Final , the RuPay priority window begins on May 22. The general sales for those matches will start on May 23.
| Date | Match | Time (IST) | Booking Phase |
| May 20 | Qualifier 1 and Eliminator | 7:00 PM | Exclusive for RuPay Credit Cardholders |
| May 21 | Qualifier 1 and Eliminator | 8:00 PM | General Sale |
| May 22 | Qualifier 2 and Final | 7:00 PM | Exclusive for RuPay Credit Cardholders |
| May 23 | Qualifier 2 and Final | 8:00 PM | General Sale |
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BCCI has picked District by Zomato as the official ticketing partner for the IPL 2026 playoff matches.
Supporters can book tickets via the District app, or also through the District website, whichever is easier. There’s also booking available on the official IPL website, so it’s not just one channel, which helps a lot when match day demand spikes.
| Date | Time (IST) | Match | Venue |
| May 26 | 7:30 PM | Qualifier 1 | Dharamsala |
| May 27 | 7:30 PM | Eliminator | Mullanpur |
| May 29 | 7:30 PM | Qualifier 2 | Mullanpur |
| May 31 | 7:30 PM | Final | Ahmedabad |
The playoff schedule was already shared earlier by the BCCI. Four matches will be held across three venues, so it’s not even spread evenly, there’s some travel involved.
Qualifier 1 will be in Dharamsala. Mullanpur will take on the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, while the Final stays in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur (Punjab Kings’ base ground) will stage two key playoff games.
At the same time, HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala hosts Qualifier 1 first, before everything moves to Ahmedabad for the final.
The playoff race is still open , but one side already locked a spot. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have officially qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs after a win over Punjab Kings by 23 runs in Dharamsala.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans are also looking pretty solid for a top-four finish after reaching 16 points, so they’re close, but not fully done yet. The remaining spots are still tight. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, and Rajasthan Royals remain in the running for the last two playoff positions.
With only a few league games left, every match can swing the points table fast, and that could decide who makes it through.
Fans should therefore be prepared not only for the final phase of IPL 2026, but also for the rush for tickets that will start soon.
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