LPL 2026: Full Schedule, Squads, and Venues Guide

The sixth season of the Lanka Premier League (LPL 2026) is all set to ignite the hearts of cricket fans. This short-lived tournament, organised by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), will start on 17 July 2026 and will be played till 8 August 2026. This time's LPL is going to be so interesting with new rules, changed franchise names, and new venues that cricket fans all over the world are eagerly waiting for it. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with the complete LPL 2026 schedule, venues, new rules, and complete squads of all the teams group-wise so that you do not have to look anywhere else.

This season of the Lanka Premier League was originally scheduled to be held in December 2025. However, Sri Lanka Cricket decided to shift it to the mid-2026 window, keeping in mind the preparations for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 and ground upgrades. This decision proved to be a good one as all the venues are now ready to host the Baray Mela with new lights and refurbished tarpaulins. This time, around 32 of the best foreign players from around the world and 62 local Sri Lankan stars will be seen in action together.

Some new rules have also been introduced in this year's tournament. The most important rule is the introduction of Impact Substitute, which in T20 cricket is used to change the course of the match. Along with this, it will be mandatory for every team to include at least one Under-23 local player in their playing XI. This decision will provide Sri Lanka's emerging talent with a golden opportunity to play and learn with the world's best players. The format of the tournament remains the same, where 5 teams will play each other two times in a double-round-robin stage, and the top 4 teams will qualify for the playoffs.

Official Team Squads for LPL 2026: Complete Player Lists

Colombo Kaps

Kusal Mendis (C / WK), Kamindu Mendis, James Neesham, Ben McDermott (WK), Rubin Hermann (WK), Binura Fernando, Milan Rathnayake, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jeffrey Vandersay, Sadeera Samarawickrama (WK), Janith Liyanage, Thanuka Dabare, Movin Subasingha, Wanuja Sahan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Hasan Mahmud, Malsha Tharupathi, Sharujan Shanmuganathan (WK), Anthony Arul Pragasam

Dambulla Sixers

Dinesh Chandimal (C / WK), Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Fazalhaq Farooqi, Reeza Hendricks, Sahibzada Farhan (WK), Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Gulbadin Naib, Ramesh Mendis, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sachitha Jayathilake, Akila Dananjaya, Marques Ackerman, Pavan Rathnayake, Vishwa Lahiru Kumara, Gayana Weerasinghe, Shadley van Schalkwyk

Galle Gallants

Dasun Shanaka (C), Chris Lynn, Litton Das (WK), Charith Asalanka, Lasith Croospulle, Eshan Malinga, Pramod Madushan, Akif Javed, Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohammad Nawaz, Sikandar Raza, Sahan Arachchige, Tharindu Rathnayake, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sachindu Colombage, Dinura Kalupahana, Yuri Koththigoda, Virandeep Singh (WK)

Jaffna Kings

Bhanuka Rajapaksa (C), Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Nuwanidu Fernando, Shakib Al Hasan, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dunith Wellalage, Taskin Ahmed, Dilshan Madushanka, Lizaad Williams, Mohamed Shiraz, Kamil Mishara (WK), Traveen Mathew, David Wiese, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Zahoor Khan, Kugathas Mathulan, Praveen Manisha

Kandy Royals

Angelo Mathews (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Moeen Ali, Vijay Shankar, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Garuka Sanketh, Daniel Sams, Sediqullah Atal, Kusal Perera (WK), Lahiru Udara (WK), Dale Phillips, Dushan Hemantha, Vishen Halambage, Muditha Lakshan, Isitha Wijesundara, Brandon McMullen, Zahir Khan, Sahan Mihira, Pavan Sandesh

LPL 2026 Complete Schedule & Match Timings

Defending Champions: Jaffna Kings'

Undisputed defending champions Jaffna Kings will once again enter the field as the favourites to retain the trophy. Their biggest strength is their stable and experienced core that is well-versed in handling the pressure of big matches. Along with the aggressive leadership of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, they have the backup of the world's best spinners, which gives them control over the middle overs in every match. Jaffna Kings will face stiff competition from the newly-owned Colombo Cups and Kandy Royals to defend their title, but their tactical calculation and multi-dimensional squad put them a step ahead of the rest.

The Lanka Premier League 2026 is set to be a revolution for Sri Lankan cricket. New rules like the Under-23 mandate will not only give young local players a chance to break through, but the Impact Substitute system will also put the LPL on par with other top T20 leagues in the world. With new franchise names, upgraded stadiums, and high-voltage media broadcasting, this tournament will keep cricket premiers buzzing for a full month. Now it remains to be seen which team will grasp this new format first and win the glittering LPL 2026 trophy.