How to Watch IPL 2026 Live: TV, Free Streaming & App

IPL 2026 starts on March 28 and runs until May 31 — that is 84 matches of TATA IPL Season 19 to watch live. Whether you want to stream on your phone for free, watch in 4K on your Smart TV, or catch it on cable — this is the complete guide to watching every IPL 2026 match live, with exact subscription prices, free options and device guides.

For the full IPL 2026 match schedule with dates, venues and timings, see our IPL 2026 Full Schedule page.

Where to Watch IPL 2026 Live — Quick Answer

📺 Live TV (India) — Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada)

📱 Live Streaming (India) — JioHotstar app and website (jiostar.com) 🌍 International — Check local broadcaster in your country

🕖 Evening matches — 7:30 PM IST

🕞 Afternoon matches — 3:30 PM IST

How to Watch IPL 2026 on TV in India

All 84 IPL 2026 matches are broadcast live on the Star Sports Network — available on all major cable and DTH providers across India, including Tata Play, Airtel DTH, Dish TV, D2H, and Den.

Star Sports Channels for IPL 2026

📺 Star Sports 1 — Live matches with English commentary

📺 Star Sports 1 Hindi — Live matches with Hindi commentary

📺 Star Sports 1 Tamil — Live matches with Tamil commentary

📺 Star Sports 1 Telugu — Live matches with Telugu commentary

📺 Star Sports 1 Kannada — Live matches with Kannada commentary

📺 Star Sports Select — Pre and post-match shows, analysis

All channels listed above carry the live match broadcast. Choose your preferred language commentary channel. Star Sports 1 Hindi typically gets the highest viewership during IPL.

How to Watch IPL 2026 Live on JioHotstar

JioHotstar is the official digital streaming platform for IPL 2026. It holds exclusive live streaming rights for all 84 matches in India. The platform — formed from the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar — now serves over 450 million users across India.

Step by Step — How to Watch IPL 2026 on JioHotstar

Step 1 — Download the JioHotstar app from Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS). Or open jiostar.com on your browser.

Step 2 — Sign up using your mobile number and email, or log in if you already have an account.

Step 3 — Go to the Sports section from the main menu.

Step 4 — Select Cricket, then find TATA IPL 2026.

Step 5 — Choose your preferred match and tap Watch Live.

Step 6 — If prompted, select or purchase a subscription plan.

Supported Devices for JioHotstar

📱 Mobile — Android and iOS smartphones and tablets

💻 Web — Any browser at jiostar.com

📺 Smart TV — LG, Samsung, Sony and other Android TVs

🎮 Fire TV Stick — Download JioHotstar from Amazon App Store

📺 Apple TV — Available on Apple TV 4th generation and above

🔌 Chromecast — Cast from your phone to TV

JioHotstar Subscription Plans for IPL 2026

IPL 2026 is not free on JioHotstar — a paid subscription is required to watch live matches. Unlike previous years when JioCinema offered free IPL streaming, JioHotstar now uses a paid model for all live sports. Here are the current plans:

Mobile Plan

💰 Monthly — ₹79 per month

💰 Annual — ₹499 per year

📱 Devices — 1 device at a time (mobile only)

📺 Quality — Up to Full HD 📢 Ads — Yes (ad-supported) 🎬 Hollywood — Not included by default (add for ₹49/month)

✅ Best for — Budget viewers watching on one phone

Super Plan

💰 Monthly — ₹149 per month

💰 Annual — Available (check JioHotstar app for current price)

📱 Devices — 2 devices simultaneously

📺 Quality — Full HD (1080p)

📢 Ads — Yes, during live sports (reduced for on-demand) 🎬 Hollywood — Included

✅ Best for — Most users — best value for IPL watching

Premium Plan

💰 Annual — ₹2,199 per year

📱 Devices — 4 devices simultaneously

📺 Quality — 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision (device and internet dependent)

📢 Ads — No ads for on-demand (live sports still have ads)

🎬 Hollywood — Included (HBO, Disney+, Warner Bros)

✅ Best for — Families, 4K TV watching, sharing accounts

⭐ Best value for IPL 2026: The Super plan at ₹149/month. Two devices, Full HD quality, access to all live sports. Perfect for most cricket fans.

How to Get JioHotstar for Free — Telecom Plans

You may not need to pay separately for JioHotstar at all. Several telecom operators bundle JioHotstar subscriptions with their prepaid recharge plans — making IPL 2026 effectively free if you are already recharging your number.

Jio

Reliance Jio offers JioHotstar subscription bundled with most of its recharge plans. The ₹349 prepaid plan includes 28 days of validity, 2GB daily data and a complimentary JioHotstar subscription. Check your current Jio plan — if it is ₹299 or above, you likely already have JioHotstar access included.

Airtel

Airtel's ₹449 prepaid plan includes 28 days of validity along with a JioHotstar subscription for the same duration. Other Airtel plans at higher price points also include JioHotstar bundled in.

BSNL

BSNL's ₹499 pack includes access to JioHotstar and SonyLIV as a three-month OTT add-on. Available to BSNL prepaid subscribers.

Vi (Vodafone Idea)

Vi also offers prepaid plans with JioHotstar access bundled. Check Vi's current recharge options at their official app or website.

📌 Pro tip: Check your existing recharge plan before buying a separate JioHotstar subscription — you may already have access included. Go to the JioHotstar app → tap the profile icon → check subscription status.

IPL 2026 Match Timings

Knowing match timings helps you plan which subscription tier you need and when to tune in.

🕞 Afternoon matches — Start at 3:30 PM IST

🕖 Evening matches — Start at 7:30 PM IST

📅 Double header days — One afternoon match + one evening match

⏱ Average match duration — 3 to 3.5 hours, including breaks

The majority of IPL 2026 matches are evening matches starting at 7:30 PM IST. Weekend double headers typically have one match at 3:30 PM and another at 7:30 PM.

For the complete day-by-day fixture list, see our IPL 2026 Full Schedule page.

IPL 2026 Full Schedule

How to Watch IPL 2026 in Best Quality

On Mobile

For the smoothest mobile stream, set JioHotstar video quality to Auto — it adjusts based on your internet speed and prevents buffering. If you are on Wi-Fi, you can manually set it to HD or Full HD for the sharpest picture. Make sure your app is updated to the latest version before the tournament starts.

On Smart TV

Connect your Smart TV to Wi-Fi (not mobile hotspot) for the most stable stream. If you are on the Premium plan, set video quality to 4K (UHD) in JioHotstar settings — go to Settings → Video Quality → 4K UHD. Your TV must support 4K and your internet connection needs at least 25 Mbps for smooth 4K playback.

On TV via Chromecast or Fire Stick

Cast from your phone using Chromecast — tap the cast icon in the JioHotstar app and select your TV. For the Fire TV Stick, download JioHotstar from the Amazon App Store directly on the stick.

How to Watch IPL 2026 Outside India

JioHotstar is restricted to India. If you are outside India, here are the official broadcaster options by region:

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — Sky Sports Cricket (TV) and Sky Go (streaming)

🇦🇺 Australia — Fox Sports and Kayo Sports (streaming)

🇺🇸 United States & Canada — Willow TV and ESPN+

🇿🇦 South Africa — SuperSport

🇦🇪 Middle East — beIN Sports

🌏 Southeast Asia — Hotstar (local version, separate from JioHotstar)

🌍 Rest of World — Check your local sports broadcaster

IPL 2026 has broadcast rights sold to partners in over 100 countries. Check your local sports channel listings closer to March 28.

IPL 2026 Points Table and Teams

Once the tournament starts, you will want to track how your team is performing. Follow the live standings and team news here:

👉 IPL 2026 Points Table — live standings, NRR and match results updated after every game.

👉 IPL 2026 Teams and Squads — complete player lists, captains and key signings for all 10 teams.

How to Watch IPL 2026 Live — Frequently Asked Questions

Is IPL 2026 free to watch on JioHotstar?

IPL 2026 is not fully free on JioHotstar. A paid subscription is required to watch live matches. However, many Jio, Airtel, BSNL, and Vi prepaid recharge plans include a complimentary JioHotstar subscription — making it effectively free if your telecom plan already includes it.

Which JioHotstar plan is best for watching IPL 2026?

The Super plan at ₹149 per month is the best value for most cricket fans. It gives access to all live sports, including IPL 2026, in Full HD quality, and supports 2 devices simultaneously.

Can I watch IPL 2026 on my TV without a set-top box?

Yes. Download the JioHotstar app on your Smart TV directly. Alternatively, use a Fire TV Stick or Chromecast connected to any TV to stream JioHotstar.

What time do IPL 2026 matches start?

Evening matches start at 7:30 PM IST. Afternoon matches on double-header days start at 3:30 PM IST. Most IPL 2026 matches are evening matches.

Can I watch IPL 2026 for free on Star Sports?

Star Sports is available on cable and DTH subscriptions. If you already have a cable or DTH connection that includes Star Sports channels, you can watch IPL 2026 on TV at no additional cost.

Where can I watch IPL 2026 highlights for free?

Official IPL 2026 match highlights are posted on the official IPL YouTube channel after every match — completely free. Star Sports and JioHotstar also publish highlights on their social media channels.

What is the JioHotstar Premium plan price for 2026?

The JioHotstar Premium annual plan is ₹2,199 per year for new subscribers from January 28, 2026. It includes 4K streaming, 4 simultaneous devices and no ads for on-demand content. Note: live sports, including IPL, still show ads even on Premium.

IPL 2026 runs from March 28 to May 31 — 84 matches of the best T20 cricket in the world. Whether you are on a ₹79 mobile plan or watching in 4K on a Premium subscription, every match is accessible. Bookmark this page — we will update it with any new streaming deals or telecom offers as they are announced before and during the tournament.

To follow the live standings during the tournament, check our IPL 2026 Points Table page, updated after every match.