The 19th season of Indian Premier League is set to begin on Saturday, March 28, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium from 7:30 PM. While opening ceremonies have been a hallmark of the IPL since its inception, the tradition will not continue this year.
The IPL opening ceremony was previously called off in 2019 following the Pulwama attack, and later editions were affected by COVID-19 pandemic. It eventually returned, with last year’s IPL opener in Kolkata featuring performances by stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Shreya Ghoshal, Disha Patani, and Karan Aujla.
However, according to Devajit Saikia, the opening ceremony for IPL 2026 has once again been cancelled. There will be no grand opening event, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India is planning a closing ceremony instead.
Why Was It Cancelled?
The decision is linked to a tragic incident that occurred last year at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. After RCB clinched their maiden IPL title, a celebration was held at the venue without adequate planning, drawing massive crowds due to free entry. The situation spiraled out of control, leading to a stampede outside the stadium that claimed 11 lives.
As a mark of respect to the victims, BCCI has decided not to hold an IPL opening ceremony this season.
The IPL 2026 league stage will run from March 28 to May 24, featuring 70 matches across 12 venues.
This isn’t the first time the Indian Premier League has begun without an opening ceremony. In its 18-year history, the league has skipped the ceremony on four previous occasions due to security concerns, national tragedies, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
IPL Seasons Without Opening Ceremonies
The 2020 and 2021 editions were held under strict pandemic protocols, with players undergoing regular testing and remaining in bio-secure bubbles. Given the circumstances, no opening ceremonies were held in either season, prioritizing player safety.
Earlier, in 2019, the ceremony was cancelled following the Pulwama attack, in which around 40 soldiers lost their lives. The funds allocated for the event were instead donated to the families of the victims.
The 2022 season also proceeded without an opening ceremony as lingering COVID-19 concerns continued to impact large gatherings.
