The Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) has announced the first game of the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026, set to kick off on July 17. The opening match will feature last year’s champions, the Jaffna Kings, against the runners-up, the Galle Marvels, at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo. A grand opening ceremony is planned to precede the tournament’s commencement, with the final scheduled for August 8th.
The sixth edition of the LPL, initially planned for December 2025, was rescheduled due to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India in February-March. The decision to postpone the league was made to ensure the proper preparation of the host venues for the T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament will consist of 24 matches, including 20 league games and four knockout fixtures, spread across four venues in Sri Lanka.
In the league phase, five franchises will face each other twice, leading to the top four teams progressing to the playoffs. The playoff stage will see the top two teams competing in Qualifier 1 for a direct spot in the final. The third and fourth-placed teams will battle in the Eliminator, with the victor facing the losing team from Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 to determine the second finalist.
