IPL 2026: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Suspended After June 2025 Stampede. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru remains under suspension for IPL 2026 and international matches. The decision followed a tragic stampede outside the venue in June 2025. The incident happened on June 4, 2025. Fans had gathered for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title celebrations. The team had just won their maiden IPL trophy.
Why the venue was “suspended”
According to official figures, 11 people lost their lives. More than 50 fans were reported injured. The crowd outside the stadium reportedly crossed 2.5 lakh people. Police reports stated crowd control arrangements were overwhelmed. Entry points became congested within minutes. Emergency movement was severely restricted near the main gates. After the tragedy, authorities stopped issuing match clearances.
As a result, the stadium will miss IPL 2026 matches and international fixtures. Several scheduled games will be shifted to other venuesvsuch as Navi Mumbai and Nagpur. A judicial commission was formed to investigate the incident. The panel highlighted serious lapses in crowd planning. It also pointed out poor coordination between agencies. The suspension affected Bengaluru’s chances in ICC tournaments.
Proposed international matches were reassigned to other cities. The stadium remained inactive for major cricket events. Recent updates, however, offer cautious hope. The Karnataka government has given conditional approval. Matches may only be returned after strict safety compliance. Authorities have demanded new crowd management protocols. Entry and exit flow plans must be redesigned.
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Police deployment numbers will be significantly increased. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar addressed the issue publicly. He said the stadium will host matches again. He stressed that fan safety will be the top priority. For now, Chinnaswamy’s return depends on execution. Cricket will resume only after full safety clearance. The stadium’s future is linked to safer matchday planning.