The Board of Control for Cricket in India is expected to soon finalise and announce the venues for the closing stages of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. As per reports, the final four matches, including the playoffs, are likely to be split between Punjab and Bengaluru.
Traditionally, the IPL final is hosted at the home ground of the defending champions. With Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning the title last season, the summit clash is expected to be held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, Bengaluru’s chances of hosting the final are under threat due to an ongoing controversy related to ticket allocation for MLAs. According to reports cited by ANI, the BCCI may shift the final to another city if the issue remains unresolved.
“IPL 2026 playoffs and final venues will be announced soon. Matches are likely to be divided between Punjab and Karnataka. Traditionally, the defending champions host the final, but the MLA ticket issue is creating problems in Bengaluru. If there is no resolution, the BCCI may move the final elsewhere,” a source told ANI.
The controversy began ahead of the opening match between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad, when Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar stated that MLAs should receive at least five IPL tickets, arguing that elected representatives are “VIPs” who should not have to wait in queues.
Following this, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced that three tickets per match would be allocated to MLAs and MPs. However, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara later clarified that tickets are booked online and can only be used by the buyers or their family members, as they are non-transferable.
With the situation still unresolved, the final decision on the IPL 2026 final venue now hinges on how quickly the issue is addressed.
