The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to unveil the first phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 schedule in the coming days, with March 12 or 13 confirmed as the likely release date. The tournament itself is set to kick off on March 28 and will conclude on May 31, as exclusively reported earlier by Cricbuzz.

Devajit Saikia, BCCI secretary, confirmed the staggered release plan during a conversation on Tuesday evening, stating, "We are hoping to release the IPL schedule in a day or two. It will be a staggered two-phase schedule and we will release the first phase, covering the first 20 days, on March 12 or 13. The second phase of the schedule will be announced after the dates of the Assembly elections are declared by the Election Commission of India."

This strategic, two-phase approach is a response to the upcoming Assembly elections in key states including Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala. The timing and logistics of the IPL fixtures—particularly match venues and travel plans—will be influenced by election schedules in at least three of these states, necessitating flexibility in planning.

Saikia added that the BCCI is awaiting final confirmations from certain host cities before finalizing the first leg. He also confirmed a notable expansion to the league's infrastructure: Raipur will be introduced as a new venue for IPL 2026, joining the existing roster of regular host centers.

Despite global concerns such as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its potential impact on fuel supply chains, Saikia emphasized that the BCCI’s planning remains focused solely on the electoral calendar. "We are currently not influenced by any factor other than the impending Assembly elections," he said, reassuring stakeholders that the season will conclude as planned by May 31, without any extension.

The IPL Governing Council had previously approved the two-phase scheduling model, as reported by Cricbuzz on March 3, paving the way for this adaptive approach to ensure both the smooth conduct of democracy and the nation's premier T20 tournament.