IPL 2026 Auction Venue: All Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises have until Saturday, November 15, to reveal their lists of retained and released players for the 2026 season. About two months later, the mini auction is expected to take place on December 15 or 16, and this time, the event will be held in Abu Dhabi.
In the past, Dubai and Jeddah have hosted IPL auctions, but according to a PTI report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now finalized Abu Dhabi as the new venue. “Abu Dhabi has been locked in as the auction venue,” a BCCI official told PTI, adding that the exact date is yet to be confirmed but the event will most likely take place in mid-December.
Originally, the BCCI had planned to host the auction in India, with Mumbai and Bengaluru being considered as potential venues. However, the decision was changed to make it easier for overseas support staff, who play an important role in player selection to attend.
With only a few days left before the deadline for teams to submit their player lists, the excitement around the IPL is already building. Much of the buzz comes from the pending trade deal between Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson, which several reports suggest is close to being finalized.
While there have been other trade rumors floating around, the Jadeja-Samson swap appears to be the only one likely to go through for now. The Rajasthan Royals were reportedly in talks with multiple franchises regarding Samson, but Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are expected to seal the deal—unless there’s a last-minute twist.
