AIFF Releases Official RFP for ISL 2026-27 Media Rights

Indian football’s next major chapter is beginning to take shape off the pitch. The AIFF has officially invited bids for the media rights of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season, marking the next step in the league’s new club-led commercial model. The federation, with the ISL clubs, released the Request for Proposal (RFP) on Friday, opening the process for companies interested in securing the league’s broadcast, digital, media and production rights.

Background: A Season of Structural Change

To fully appreciate the significance of this RFP, it is essential to understand the turbulent period that preceded it.

The start of the 2025-26 ISL was delayed by around five months after a crisis hit the country’s football after the national federation and its previous commercial partner FSDL failed to renew the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) beyond December 8 last year.

The AIFF, on February 2, awarded the exclusive global broadcast rights of the truncated ISL 2025-26 to FanCode for Rs 8.62 crore. Kaleidoscope Production and Services (KPS Studios) was awarded the production rights of the league, global as well as domestic.

This breakthrough finally ends the intense speculation surrounding the league, following a severely disrupted 2025-26 season that was cut short to just 13 single-leg matches per club over three months after the previous marketing agreement ended last December.

The New Club-Led Commercial Model

The release of this RFP comes as part of a fundamental restructuring of how the ISL is governed and commercialised.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have locked in a major agreement, securing the future of the country’s top-tier tournament for at least the next two years. The AIFF has handed over the commercial rights of the ISL to the clubs for a four-year period, though the clubs retain a unilateral exit option after two years.

“We are giving them the commercial rights of the ISL and as usual the AIFF will hold on to the administrative and all the important aspects of running the league,” AIFF Deputy Secretary-General M Satyanarayan announced at a press conference.

It was announced that the clubs will hold the commercial rights for the Indian Super League going forward, while the AIFF will retain administrative control and oversight of key operational aspects, in a move toward a more globally common, club-led structure.

The Two Packages Explained

The AIFF has divided the media rights into two separate packages. Package A includes both the media rights and live production responsibilities.

The successful bidder under Package A will be responsible for producing the live broadcast and covering all associated production costs.

Package B offers media rights without production, with the ISL clubs handling live production.

How to Participate: The Bidding Process

The RFP outlines the bidding process, eligibility requirements and key timelines that interested parties must follow before submitting their proposals.

Companies wishing to participate will first have to purchase the RFP document by paying a non-refundable fee of ₹2 lakh, excluding applicable taxes.

To receive the RFP document, bidders must complete the payment and email the transaction details along with the required company information to the AIFF. The federation will share the document only after verifying the payment and submitted details.

The last date for submitting bids is August 8, 2026, while the technical and commercial bids will be opened on August 10, 2026.

Key Dates & Timeline

What the 2026-27 Season Will Look Like

The upcoming campaign promises to be a significant upgrade on the chaotic 2025-26 edition.

The 2026-27 season will be held in a home-and-away format. The Indian Super League 2026-27 season tentatively begins on September 1, 2026, and will run until April 11, 2027. It will be a full seven-month campaign, returning to the traditional format after the truncated 2025-26 edition.

The league calendar will be planned around the FIFA Men’s International Match Windows and the AFC club competition schedules to ensure the best possible preparations for the national team as well as the participating clubs in continental competitions.

The 2026-27 Indian Super League will be the 13th season of the Indian Super League and the 31st season of top-tier Indian football.

ISL 2025-26 Season Review

East Bengal won their first ISL title and fourth overall Indian title, ending a 22-year title drought. The 12th edition of the Indian Super League concluded in Kolkata with East Bengal winning 2-1 against Inter Kashi on the final day to secure the ISL 2026 title.

Goals by ISL 2026 Golden Boot winner Youssef Ezzejjari and Mohammed Rashid in the second period saw the Kolkata heavyweights win the match and clinch the title.

Previous ISL Media Rights History

ISL 2026-27 Participating Clubs

On 23 May 2026, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) set 15 June 2026 as the deadline for clubs to confirm participation for the 2026-27 season with a ₹1 crore fee. East Bengal are the defending champions, having won their maiden Super League title and the fourth overall top-tier league title.

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