Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions of the Indian Premier League, are set for a dramatic shift in the 2026 season as the franchise prepares to move away from their long-time home, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. After nearly two decades of playing in Bengaluru, RCB are now exploring alternative venues following the tragic stampede that occurred outside the stadium during the IPL 2025 title celebrations.
The unfortunate incident, which led to multiple casualties and injuries, triggered widespread criticism of both the franchise and the local authorities. As a result, serious questions were raised about crowd management and safety at large-scale cricket events in the city. Those concerns have now translated into a major logistical and strategic decision for RCB ahead of IPL 2026.
According to reports in the Times of India, RCB have finalised plans to host their home games across two venues next season. Five matches are expected to be played at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, while the remaining two will be hosted at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur.
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The franchise reportedly held extensive discussions with local administrations and stadium authorities to ensure both venues can meet security, crowd control, and operational standards. DY Patil Stadium is a familiar venue in the IPL ecosystem, having hosted numerous league matches and international fixtures over the years.
🚨 NEW HOME GROUND OF RCB IN IPL 2026. 🚨
– RCB likely to play their home matches at the DY Patil Stadium and in Raipur.
RCB to play 5 matches in Navi Mumbai and 2 in Raipur. (Gaurav Gupta/TOI). pic.twitter.com/sVHpaDpB2X
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 13, 2026
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Its modern facilities, large seating capacity, and easy access make it a safe and practical choice for a high-profile team like RCB. Raipur, meanwhile, has steadily built a reputation as a reliable cricketing venue, successfully staging international games and IPL matches in recent seasons. While Indore was initially considered, Raipur now appears to have edged ahead due to its readiness and infrastructure.
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Notably, RCB have not yet approached the Karnataka State Cricket Association regarding the use of Chinnaswamy Stadium for IPL 2026, underlining how seriously the franchise is taking the fallout from the 2025 tragedy. In a broader reshuffle, Rajasthan Royals are also set to move their home matches to Pune’s MCA Stadium amid ongoing disputes with the Rajasthan Cricket Association.
The IPL 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most logistically different in recent history, with RCB’s relocation standing out as one of its biggest talking points.
