The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction is set to captivate cricket fans worldwide on December 16, 2025, when franchises bid to build their squads ahead of the upcoming T20 season. The player auction, a crucial event in the IPL calendar, will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, continuing the trend of conducting the event abroad. This auction will determine how the 10 IPL teams boost their line-ups for the tournament, which is slated to be played from March to May 2026.
Date, venue of IPL 2026 auction
The IPL 2026 auction is officially slated for December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, where franchise representatives will gather to bid on a pool of players aiming for spots in the league’s squad. This will be the third consecutive IPL auction to take place outside India and the second in the UAE since the 2024 mini auction.
Franchise will compete for a total of 77 available slots from a shortlist of around 350 players, including both Indian and overseas talent. Team will strategise to acquire their preferred mix of batters, bowlers and all -rounders.
Where to watch the IPL auction Live
Cricket fans in India can watch the IPL 2026 auction live on the Star Sports network, which holds television broadcasting rights for the event. Along with the TV telecast, live streaming will be available on JioCinema and JioHotstar platforms. Viewers will be able to follow the bidding action in real time on their mobile devices and computers.
For international audiences, coverage will extend to broadcasters in several regions. In countries like Australia, the United Kingdom and South Africa, fans will be able to watch it on sports channels like Sky Sports/Now TV, Foxtel, and SuperSport. The IPL 2026 auction is expected to shape the fortunes of teams as well as the players.