PSL 2026 Dates Announced, League to Expand to Eight Teams After January Auction

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) will enter a new phase in 2026 with the addition of two new franchises, following an auction scheduled for January 8 in Islamabad. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Monday that the 11th season of the league will be played from March 26 to May 3, 2026.

The inclusion of two new teams will expand the PSL to an eight-team tournament for the first time in its history. As a result, PSL 2026 will also be the longest edition of the league, spanning 39 playing days—around a week longer than previous seasons, which typically ran for 30 to 35 days. While the full match schedule will be released after the new franchises are finalised, the expanded format will feature more matches than ever before.

The 2026 window has been moved slightly earlier compared to PSL X in 2025, which was held from April 11 to May 25 and included an interruption due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Despite the adjustment, the PSL will continue to overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the second consecutive year. The IPL is scheduled to run from March 17 to May 31, 2026. In 2025, the PSL began 20 days after the IPL’s March 22 start.

In preparation for the expanded season, the PCB has held promotional roadshows at Lord’s in London and in New York over the past month, aiming to attract potential investors and commercial partners. The league recently received a boost when the five original franchise owners agreed to renew their ownership agreements for another 10 years.

However, uncertainty surrounds the future of Multan Sultans. The franchise, which joined the league as the sixth team in 2018, is set to require a new owner after current owner Ali Tareen confirmed he would not renew his rights. Tareen has been involved in a prolonged dispute with the PSL, publicly criticising the league over transparency and long-term vision.

PSL 2026 will also mark the second consecutive season played largely in the April–May window. This year, there will be a 17-day gap between the conclusion of the T20 World Cup and the start of the PSL.

Lahore Qalandars enter the upcoming season as defending champions and remain the league’s most valuable franchise, paying approximately PKR 980 million (around USD 3.47 million) annually in franchise fees to the PCB.