The IPL 2026 auction will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, with all 10 franchises set to bid for players at the Etihad Arena as part of the league’s annual mini auction ahead of the new season. The auction will begin at 2:30 pm IST (1:00 pm local time) and is expected to draw significant global attention as franchises look to fine-tune their squads ahead of the new season.
The overseas venue selection continues a recent trend by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which has taken the IPL auction outside India to expand the league’s international footprint. After Dubai hosted the 2024 mini auction and Jeddah staged the 2025 mega auction, Abu Dhabi becomes the latest global destination for one of cricket’s most high-profile business events.
Mini vs Mega Auction: What’s the difference?
The IPL conducts two types of auctions, mini and mega, each serving a distinct purpose. The mini auction, held annually, allows teams to address specific gaps in their squads with a limited purse. Only released players or new entrants are eligible, making it a targeted squad-building exercise.
For the IPL 2026 mini auction, teams have 77 total slots available, including 31 overseas positions. Originally, 1,355 players registered for the auction, but after consultations with franchises, the list was pruned to 350 players — 240 Indians and 110 overseas cricketers. Late additions, such as Quinton de Kock, remain subject to final approval.
In contrast, mega auctions take place every three to four years and allow franchises to overhaul their squads. During the 2025 mega auction, teams spent Rs 639.15 crore on 182 players, dwarfing the Rs 230.45 crore spent in the 2024 auction.
Retentions, releases and trade window activity
Franchises were required to submit their final list of retained and released players by November 15, with the salaries of retained players deducted from their overall purse. Squad reshaping began immediately after the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad, a match remembered for Shashank Singh’s last-ball six.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won their maiden IPL title, retained their core group while releasing several high-profile names. Across franchises, notable releases included Andre Russell, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Matheesha Pathirana, Ravi Bishnoi and others. Russell has since retired from the league, while Maxwell opted out of the auction altogether.
The trade window also saw significant movement, with 10 players traded ahead of the auction. One of the biggest swaps involved Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, with Sanju Samson moving to CSK, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran headed to RR.
How the IPL auction works
On auction day, an independent auctioneer conducts the bidding, with franchises raising paddles in fixed increments. Players are grouped by role and base price, and an accelerated round is held for those who remain unsold in the initial phase.
Players who go unsold can still be considered later as injury replacements. Franchises must spend at least 75% of their total purse and maintain squad sizes between 18 and 25 players, with a maximum of eight overseas players. Notably, there will be no Right to Match (RTM) cards available for the 2026 auction.
When does IPL 2026 start and where to watch the auction?
The Indian Premier League 2026 season is expected to run from mid-March to late May, featuring 10 teams including Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The IPL 2026 auction will be live-streamed on JioHotstar in India, while television coverage will be available on the Sony Sports Network.