For every RCB fan who feared that the roar of the Chinnaswamy crowd was silenced for good — breathe. The champions are coming home.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru officially confirmed on March 3, 2026 that five of their seven home matches in IPL 2026 will be held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru — marking cricket’s much-anticipated return to the city after the devastating stampede tragedy that claimed 11 lives during RCB’s IPL 2025 title celebration.
Table of Contents
RCB’s IPL 2026 Home Schedule — At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Total Home Matches | 7 |
| Matches at Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru | 5 |
| Matches at Raipur (Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium) | 2 |
| Raipur Commitment | Pre-existing agreement honoured |
| Venue Clearance | Karnataka Government + KSCA approved |
| Safety Renovations Done By | KSCA under Venkatesh Prasad’s leadership |
| Renovation Basis | Justice Cunha Committee recommendations |
| RCB’s CEO Statement | Rajesh Menon confirmed via official press release |
Why This Announcement Matters So Much
This wasn’t a straightforward decision. After the Bengaluru stampede, RCB reportedly explored shifting all their home games — with Pune and even the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai considered as alternatives. Mumbai Indians, five-time IPL champions, declined RCB’s request to use DY Patil, asking RCB to look elsewhere instead.
The Karnataka Government eventually gave the green light, and the Justice Cunha Committee-led safety renovations at Chinnaswamy were implemented before this season. The KSCA board, led by Venkatesh Prasad, worked swiftly to ensure every recommendation was actioned in time.
RCB CEO Rajesh Menon called it a moment of gratitude: “We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible.”
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with a seating capacity of over 35,000, is one of India’s most iconic cricket venues — and its return to the IPL calendar will be an emotional one for fans and players alike.
What About the IPL 2026 Schedule?
The full IPL 2026 schedule is expected to be officially released after the T20 World Cup semi-finals conclude. RCB, as defending IPL champions, will be among the most watched teams of the season.
Want to stay ahead of every IPL 2026 update? Check out our complete IPL 2026 team squads and auction analysis on Technosports and our RCB IPL 2026 preview and predicted XI guide to know what to expect this season.
FAQs
Q: Why are 2 of RCB’s home matches being played in Raipur and not Bengaluru?
Those two Raipur fixtures stem from a pre-existing commitment made by RCB to the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, which will be honoured this season.
Q: Is Chinnaswamy Stadium safe enough to host IPL 2026 after the 2025 stampede?
Yes — the KSCA completed all safety renovations recommended by the Justice Cunha Committee, and both the Karnataka Government and Karnataka Police have officially cleared the venue for hosting matches.
