The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to skip opening ceremony for IPL 2026 in order to show respect towards the 11 victims of the stampede tragedy occurred in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match of IPL 2026 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
There will be no celebrations ahead of the match. However, according to Times Of India, the IPL governing council are planning a grand closing ceremony on May 31. “Due to last year’s tragic incident on June 4 last year, there will be no formal function on the day of the start of IPL-2026 (in Bengaluru). The BCCI is not organizing any cultural or entertainment show at the start of IPL-19 as a mark of respect to the departed souls due to that tragedy on June 4, 2025.”
However, the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council are planning a grand entertainment function at the closing of the IPL, on the day of the final (May 31),” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Times Of India.
