The Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 officially kicks off on July 17, with the 2024 final a rematch between defending champions Jaffna and runners-up Galle in the last edition of the competition.
The opening match will be staged under lights at the Sinhala Sports Club Stadium in Colombo, which recently hosted its first T20 International during this year’s T20 World Cup.
The match is scheduled to start at 7:30pm and will be preceded by the official opening ceremony marking the start of the new season.
The matches will be held from July 17 to August 8 after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had earlier indicated that the matches would start on July 10 at four international venues.
The SSC will hold three-day matches (July 17-19) before the tournament moves to Dambulla, followed by Kandy.
The league stage will then return to Colombo, with the knockout matches and the final R. Scheduled at Premadasa Maidan. A reserve day has been set aside for the final on August 9.
The 2026 edition will feature five franchises representing Jaffna, Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Tambullai. However, official team names and ownership details are yet to be confirmed, with SLC expected to unveil full branding and franchise identities closer to the tournament.
Player registration is open from May 8 and will end on May 20. Direct signatures are allowed until May 22, although all formal registrations must be completed by the earlier deadline.
Unlike the previous two seasons that used an auction format, the 2026 edition will return to a player draft system scheduled for June 1. The change means players will not be allowed to retain, paving the way for a complete overhaul of the squad.
Each franchise must field a minimum squad of 18 players, with the option to expand to 20 players, including two additional local selections.
In a move to strengthen grassroots representation, each team must include at least two emerging players under the age of 23, with one in the playing XI. Teams are allowed up to four foreign players in the playing XI.
The player registration rules briefly sparked debate on social media after an initial draft suggested that icon and star-type players would need a minimum of 250,000 followers on social media. However, Sri Lanka Cricket has removed this requirement.
The LPL also maintains strict media and fan engagement standards, with players who fail to meet obligations being fined between 5% and 50% of match fees.
Competition schedule