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How to watch IPL 2026: live stream Indian Premier League cricket online, fixtures

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Can Virat Kohli and RCB defend their long-awaited IPL title?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli plays a shot during an Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match.
(Image credit: SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
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The cricket world's biggest annual tournament is back, with the hard-hitting, yorker-bowling razzmatazz of the 2026 Indian Premier League dominating the sport's headlines with daily games across its two-month window. Follow our guide below for where to watch IPL live streams 2026 from anywhere with a VPN.

IPL live stream 2026: TV channels, dates

IPL 2026 live streams take place from March 28 to May 31, 2026
• U.S. — Willow via Sling TV
• U.K. — Sky Sport
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free

Will the trophy stay at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium this season? Kohli and co will defend the title against the other nine franchises, with 84 games packed into just 65 days of action. 2024 champions the Kolkata Knight Riders will hope for a return to the top, now with the IPL's most expensive player, Cameron Green, among their ranks. While Sanju Samson will be eager to back up his T20 World Cup heroics by bringing glory back to his new franchise — five-time winners, the Chennai Super Kings.

With the Mumbai Indians — starring the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma and India captain Suryakumar Yadav — also shooting for a record-breaking sixth title, it's set to be another super competitive season. So watch along with our advice on how to stream Indian Premier League 2026 online and watch cricket live streams from anywhere.

🏏 Stream IPL 2026 on Willow via Sling TV

🏏 Stream IPL 2026 on Willow via Sling TV

Prices start from only $10/month making it a great way to watch live cricket action.

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Watch IPL 2026 for free

The 2026 IPL is only available for free in select MENA countries with Cricbuzz (iOS / Android).

Those countries are UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. You will need a Cricbuzz account as well to access live streaming.

Traveling elsewhere this IPL season? Fear not, NordVPN will offer you the chance to live stream anywhere in the world — more on that below.

How to watch IPL 2026 from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching this year's Indian Premier League on your usual subscription?

You can still tune in to IPL cricket live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:

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How to watch IPL live streams 2026 in the U.S.

US flag

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For cricket fans in the U.S. streaming service Willow TV will be showing the IPL once again across its linear and digital platforms.

Willow is available from a number of cable providers including Dish, Spectrum, Xfinity, Verizon Fios and more, or as its own standalone subscription service.

You can also access Willow via Sling TV, thanks to an unbeatable deal for cricket fans. Its Desi Binge Plus and Dakshin Flex plans get you a Willow TV subscription from just $10/month, with no need to sign up to the Blue or Orange bundles first. And no long contracts either.

Willow is where you'll find the majority of all the cricket live streams in the U.S. which means a Sling TV subscription has your cricket watching needs covered.

How to watch IPL live streams 2026 in the U.K.

British flag

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The IPL 2026 is being shown on Sky Sports and its dedicated Sky Sports Cricket channel in the U.K.

That means you'll also be able to watch via its Sky Go app on mobiles, laptops and games consoles, or through a Now Sports Membership for more flexible plans.

If you're not in the U.K. right now but already subscribe to one of these services, use NordVPN to watch the 2026 IPL as if you were back at home.

How to watch IPL live streams 2026 in India

A segment of the Indian flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Fans in India can watch this year's IPL on on Star Sports on TV and JioHotstar digitally.

Subscriptions to JioHotstar cost from just Rs. 79/month (around $0.85 USD), with the option to alternatively purchase an annual package for for Rs. 499 ($5.40 USD).

For fans outside of India, use a reliable VPN to unblock your JioHotstar account and watch all the action just as if you're at home.

How to watch IPL live streams 2026 in Australia

Australia flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Fox Sports has live and exclusive coverage of the IPL in Australia, with live streams also available via the Kayo Sports streaming service.

You can try your first month of Kayo for $1 or get a 7-day FREE trial, with subscriptions starting at $30/month thereafter.

Again, you'll need to use a safe, reliable VPN to access Kayo Sports when traveling abroad.

Can I watch IPL 2026 cricket for free?

In past years, streaming services in Pakistan such as Tapmad and YuppTV have shown free IPL coverage.

Owing to the recent hostilities between the countries of Pakistan and India, however, IPL live streams were cancelled in the former during the 2025 season. And, at the time of writing, there has been no confirmation that 2026 matches will be shown in Pakistan.

That means, the closest you'll come to free IPL streams in 2026 (legal ones, at least!) is by taking a free trial to a streaming service like Kayo Sports in Australia.

IPL fixtures 2026

All games take place at 7:30 p.m. IST or (where there are two games on one day) 3:30 p.m. IST local time.

Saturday, March 28
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 10 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT

Sunday, March 29
Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST

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Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Adam Marshall
Contributor

Adam was the Content Director of Subscriptions and Services at Future, meaning that he oversaw many of the articles the publisher produces about antivirus software, VPN, TV streaming, broadband and mobile phone contracts - from buying guides and deals news, to industry interest pieces and reviews. Adam can still be seen dusting his keyboard off to write articles for the likes of TechRadar, T3 and Tom's Guide, having started his career at consumer champions Which?.

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