IPL 2026 Auction To Be Held in Abu Dhabi on December 16. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has officially announced that the 2026 player auction will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16. The third consecutive year that marquee auction will take place at a global venue outside of India. Following Dubai in 2024 and Jeddah in 2025, Abu Dhabi becomes the third major world city to host this annual cricketing auction.
Reports indicate that the 2026 auction will be a mini-auction, similar to the previous two auctions. All ten franchises are expected to finalise their players who are retained and released before November 15, 2025, at which point the IPL governing council will announce the final player pool. The trading window opened following IPL 2025 and will remain open until a week before the auction, and then also after the auction.
The Continued Hosting of Auctions Abroad
The BCCI’s decision to hold the auction abroad is reportedly due to logistical ease and as part of its aim to further the IPL’s global footprint. Abu Dhabi boasts state-of-the-art facilities and international transportation access, providing a seamless experience for teams, media, and stakeholders.
The 2026 auction will bring excitement and anticipation, with franchises looking to rebuild their squads. The mini-auction lends the opportunity for teams to fill specific gaps while maintaining some level of core stability built up over previous seasons. Several different franchises currently have active conversations regarding potential trades, so expect some movement leading up to the final hammer in Abu Dhabi.
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The IPL 2026 season is still expected to be played between March 15 and May 31, 2026, while the Abu Dhabi auction will set the stage for another exciting edition of world-class T20 cricket.