Karnataka govt clears Chinnaswamy to host IPL 2026 matches

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The Karnataka government has granted permission to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to host matches in the upcoming IPL 2026 season, after months of uncertainty.

“In the interest of the sport and its fans, the Cabinet today has taken an important decision to permit the conduct of IPL matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium, while keeping public safety paramount,” Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on X on Thursday (February 12).

“The recommendations of the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Report will be implemented, with strict adherence to norms on ticketing, crowd regulation, and stadium access. With responsibility and accountability, we move forward.”

In the wake of the stampede that ensued during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory parade a day after their maiden IPL title triumph in June 2025, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium was deemed unsafe. The ground has since not hosted a competitive game of cricket, with high-profile matches such as the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup moved out of the venue at the eleventh hour.

With prolonged question marks over it’s readiness to host IPL 2026 matches, RCB were on the lookout for an alternative venue. They were also believed to have written to the Mumbai Indians to use the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai as an alternative venue.

At Chinnaswamy, the franchise proposed the installation of AI-enabled surveillance cameras to ensure smoother crowd management in the future.

With the state government giving the green light, the call will now be RCB’s on whether they will choose to play their home games at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium or not. As per the norm, the defending champion holds the right to host the subsequent IPL final.