RCB to Play Five IPL 2026 Home Matches in Bengaluru, Two in Raipur

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play five of their home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and the remaining two fixtures at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur in the upcoming IPL season, the franchise confirmed on Tuesday.

The announcement ends uncertainty over whether the team would return to its traditional home ground after a tragic incident following its maiden title win. A stampede that killed 11 fans after RCB’s championship celebration had raised serious concerns over crowd management and safety at the venue. Since the incident, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted major domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, or Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 , as authorities reviewed and upgraded infrastructure and safety measures.

RCB stated that the decision to host five matches in Bengaluru came after months of coordination with the Government of Karnataka, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and Karnataka Police . The franchise said that necessary permissions were obtained after detailed discussions and completion of due procedures related to safety and event management.

In its official release, RCB expressed gratitude to all concerned authorities for their support in enabling matches to return to Bengaluru. The franchise added that the collective effort to strengthen infrastructure and implement enhanced safety protocols ensured that the defending champions could play the majority of their home games at their home ground .

RCB CEO Rajesh Menon said the M Chinnaswamy Stadium represents the team’s identity and thanked fans for their unwavering support. He noted that supporters deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home and that extensive discussions were held before finalising the arrangement.

The franchise clarified that the two home matches scheduled in Raipur are being held as per prior commitment , ensuring compliance with earlier agreements. With the confirmation, RCB will split its home fixtures between Bengaluru and Raipur in the upcoming IPL season.