BCCI announces WPL 2026 schedule; playoffs to be held in Vadodara from February 3 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced the schedule for the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL). The fourth edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place from January 9 to February 5, with Navi Mumbai and Vadodara announced as the host cities.

The tournament will kick-start with the high-profile clash between the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, and the 2024 edition winners, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The contest will also mark the start of the Navi Mumbai-leg, where the DY Patil Stadium hosts the first 11 matches of the tournament until January 17.

"With the mega auction in New Delhi on Thursday reshaping and strengthening squads, WPL 2026 is poised to deliver its most riveting season yet. Young Indian players are set to break through alongside seasoned international performers, promising high-intensity cricket throughout," WPL's statement read.

Vadodara, which played host to a section of WPL matches last year, will witness the remainder of the WPL 2026, including the playoffs. The second leg of the tournament will commence from January 18 onwards, with the first match being between the Gujarat Giants (GG) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The league stage is scheduled to go on until February 1.

The playoffs, which include the Eliminator and the Final, will be played on February 3 and 5, respectively. There is no change to the format as the table-topper will qualify directly for the final, and the teams finishing second and third will face each other in the Eliminator.

The 2026 edition is set to be the first season of the new three-year cycle. Franchises recently revamped their squad through the mega auction after they were allowed to make up to five retentions during the off-season. The competition also claims a different, earlier window this time around, with India also slated to host the 2026 T20 World Cup from February 7 onwards.

WPL 2026 Full Schedule with Venues and Timings

WPL 2026 will begin from January 9 onwards (Image Credit: wplt20.com)

The WPL fixture list contains two double headers, and as a result, only two afternoon contests the entire season. UP Warriorz are involved in both matches, facing the Gujarat Giants and the Mumbai Indians on January 10 and 17, respectively.

Mumbai Indians are the current holders of the title after defeating the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final last season at the Brabourne Stadium.