When Is the IPL 2026 Auction? Date, Venue and Full Schedule
The 2026 IPL auction will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, continuing the league’s recent trend of staging the event overseas. After Dubai in 2024 and Jeddah in 2025, the UAE will once again play host as 10 franchises prepare to battle for a maximum of 77 available slots.
All teams will operate with a combined purse of Rs. 237.55 crore. The player pool features a wide age range: veteran all-rounder Jalaj Saxena, 39, is the oldest entrant, while Afghanistan’s Wahidullah Zadran, just over 18, is the youngest.
A few big names, including Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis, have opted out of IPL 2026, adding extra intrigue around new picks and uncapped options.
With squads capped at 25 players, the auction is expected to trigger intense bidding for specialised T20 roles, form players from domestic leagues, and rising international prospects.
Published on Dec 11, 2025
