The sixth edition of Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 gets underway today, marking the return of Sri Lanka‘s premier T20 competition after a two-year gap. The tournament was put on hold to allow the country to upgrade its cricketing infrastructure and prepare key venues for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Following the extended break, excitement surrounding the league has reached new heights, with all five franchises returning with revamped squads, refreshed identities, and a strong desire to challenge defending champions Jaffna Kings.
Impact player rule and U-23 mandate headline major changes in the new season
This season also introduces several significant changes aimed at enhancing the competition. The biggest addition is the Impact Player rule, allowing teams to make a tactical substitution during a match based on the game’s situation. The move is expected to add another strategic dimension to contests, particularly during crucial phases of the innings. Alongside this, the tournament has strengthened its focus on nurturing young Sri Lankan talent by making it compulsory for every franchise to include at least one local under-23 player in the playing XI for every match, giving emerging cricketers valuable exposure alongside experienced international stars.
Jaffna Kings begin title defence as tournament kicks off in Colombo
The tournament begins at Colombo’s historic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), where Jaffna Kings face Galle Marvels in the opening fixture. Over the coming weeks, matches will also be played in Dambulla and Kandy before the competition returns to Colombo for the playoffs and final in early August. With batting-friendly pitches expected to provide an even contest between power hitters and quality spinners, along with packed stadiums and a tightly packed schedule, LPL 2026 promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in the league’s history.
Also READ: Subramaniam Badrinath names 2 players CSK should target in the trade ahead of IPL 2027
Complete schedule of Lanka Premier League 2026
| Date | Match Details | Timings (IST / GMT / Local) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jul 17, 2026 | 1st Match: Jaffna Kings vs Galle Marvels (Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Sat, Jul 18, 2026 | 2nd Match: Kandy Falcons vs Dambulla Sixers (Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo) | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM Local |
| Sat, Jul 18, 2026 | 3rd Match: Galle Marvels vs Colombo Strikers (Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Sun, Jul 19, 2026 | 4th Match: Dambulla Sixers vs Jaffna Kings (Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo) | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM Local |
| Sun, Jul 19, 2026 | 5th Match: Colombo Strikers vs Kandy Falcons (Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Tue, Jul 21, 2026 | 6th Match: Dambulla Sixers vs Kandy Falcons (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Wed, Jul 22, 2026 | 7th Match: Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Strikers (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM Local |
| Wed, Jul 22, 2026 | 8th Match: Dambulla Sixers vs Galle Marvels (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Thu, Jul 23, 2026 | 9th Match: Kandy Falcons vs Colombo Strikers (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM Local |
| Thu, Jul 23, 2026 | 10th Match: Galle Marvels vs Jaffna Kings (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Sat, Jul 25, 2026 | 11th Match: Galle Marvels vs Kandy Falcons (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM Local |
| Sat, Jul 25, 2026 | 12th Match: Dambulla Sixers vs Colombo Strikers (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Sun, Jul 26, 2026 | 13th Match: Kandy Falcons vs Jaffna Kings (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM Local |
| Sun, Jul 26, 2026 | 14th Match: Galle Marvels vs Dambulla Sixers (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Tue, Jul 28, 2026 | 15th Match: Colombo Strikers vs Jaffna Kings (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Wed, Jul 29, 2026 | 16th Match: Galle Marvels vs Kandy Falcons (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele) | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM Local |
| Wed, Jul 29, 2026 | 17th Match: Colombo Strikers vs Dambulla Sixers (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Thu, Jul 30, 2026 | 18th Match: Jaffna Kings vs Kandy Falcons (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Sat, Aug 1, 2026 | 19th Match: Colombo Strikers vs Galle Marvels (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Sun, Aug 2, 2026 | 20th Match: Jaffna Kings vs Dambulla Sixers (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Wed, Aug 5, 2026 | Qualifier 1 (1 vs 2): TBC vs TBC (R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo) | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM Local |
| Wed, Aug 5, 2026 | Eliminator (3 vs 4): TBC vs TBC (R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Fri, Aug 7, 2026 | Qualifier 2 (Loser Q1 vs Winner Eliminator): TBC vs TBC (R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
| Sat, Aug 8, 2026 | Final: TBC vs TBC (R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo) | 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Local |
Broadcast and live streaming details:
- India: Star Sports 3, FanCode
- Sri Lanka: SLTMobitel PEO TV, PEO Mobile
- Pakistan: A Sports, Tamasha
- Bangladesh: TSports, iScreen
- Malaysia: Astro
- United States of America (US): Willow TV [Sign up here]
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.
