The Karnataka government has cleared the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to host matches in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season, ending months of uncertainty over the venue’s status.
Announcing the decision on X, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said:
“In the interest of the sport and its fans, the Cabinet today has taken an important decision to permit the conduct of IPL matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium, while keeping public safety paramount.
The recommendations of the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Report will be implemented, with strict adherence to norms on ticketing, crowd regulation, and stadium access. With responsibility and accountability, we move forward.”
The stadium had been under scrutiny since the stampede that occurred during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory parade following their maiden IPL title in June 2025. In the aftermath, the venue was deemed unsafe and has not hosted a competitive cricket match since. Even high-profile fixtures, including games from the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, were shifted out at the last minute.
With doubts lingering over the ground’s readiness for IPL 2026, RCB had begun exploring alternative venues. The franchise was reportedly in talks with Mumbai Indians regarding the possibility of using the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai as a temporary home venue.
To strengthen crowd management measures, RCB had proposed installing AI-enabled surveillance cameras at Chinnaswamy to improve monitoring and prevent future incidents.
Now that the state government has granted approval, the final decision rests with RCB on whether to return to Chinnaswamy for their home matches. As defending champions, the franchise also retains the right to host the IPL 2026 final, as per tournament norms.
