The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has received official clearance to host matches during IPL 2026 after a government-appointed Expert Committee approved the venue on Monday. The decision comes after a thorough inspection of the stadium’s infrastructure, safety arrangements, and crowd management systems. With the green signal now in place, preparations are set to accelerate as the venue gears up to welcome fans and top-tier cricket action once again after months of scrutiny.
Notably, the Chinnaswamy Stadium last hosted a competitive match during IPL 2025. Since then, the venue had been under intense scrutiny following the tragic events of June 3, when 11 fans lost their lives during celebrations after RCB’s victory. The incident led to a comprehensive review of safety arrangements and event management protocols around the stadium.
Chinnaswamy set to host key matches of IPL 2026 including the final
With the approval now in place, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is set to play a major role in the upcoming IPL season. The venue will host the tournament opener on March 28, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In addition to the opening game, the Bengaluru venue will also stage one playoff fixture and the grand final of IPL 2026. This follows the IPL’s long-standing practice of allowing the defending champions to host the final, making Chinnaswamy one of the most important venues in the tournament this year.
The IPL governing council has currently released the schedule only for the first two weeks of the competition. During this phase, the stadium will also host another high-profile clash on April 5, when RCB take on their long-time rivals Chennai Super Kings.
Government committee conducted detailed stadium audit
The clearance came after a detailed review conducted by a committee appointed by Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara. The panel visited the stadium on Friday and spent an entire day examining various aspects related to safety and match-day operations.
Officials carried out checks on structural integrity, entry and exit points, emergency response arrangements, and crowd control mechanisms around the venue. The goal was to ensure that the stadium is fully prepared to handle the large crowds that typically attend IPL matches.
The final approval was granted after a meeting on Monday between representatives of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), senior officials from RCB, and members of the expert committee chaired by G Maheshwar Rao.
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RCB to split home games between Bengaluru and Raipur
For IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five of their home matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, not all of their home fixtures will be staged in Bengaluru this season.
Two of their games will take place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. This arrangement is part of a previously agreed partnership between the RCB franchise and the Chhattisgarh government, aimed at promoting cricket in the region and expanding the team’s fan base. Despite this split arrangement, Bengaluru will remain the primary home venue for the franchise during the tournament.
Meanwhile, the franchise has not yet announced the official date for ticket sales for IPL 2026 matches in Bengaluru, though the process is expected to begin later this week as excitement builds for the new season.
Also READ: IPL 2026: BCCI announces schedule for the first phase; RCB to take on SRH in the opening contest
