The Andhra Premier League 2026 schedule is here, and Season 5 runs from June 9 to June 30, 2026. Seven franchise teams will battle across 32 matches (28 league + 4 playoffs).

The opening match features Simhadri Vizag Lions vs Kakinada Kings, while the grand finale takes place on June 30, 2026.

Organized by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) and sanctioned by the BCCI, the GMR-sponsored APL has consequently grown into one of India’s most exciting regional T20 leagues.

APL 2026 Quick Overview

Before jumping into the full fixture list, this table captures the key facts about the Andhra Premier League 2026 at a glance.

APL 2026 Full Match Schedule And Fixture List

Here’s the complete APL 2026 schedule with dates and match timings, as released by the league. All times are in IST. The afternoon games begin at 1:30 PM, while evening games start at 6:30 PM. The final on June 30 has a special 7:30 PM start.

League Stage Fixtures (June 9 – June 27)

In total, the league phase spans 19 days with rest days on June 15, 16, 22, and 23. Each team plays 8 league matches, after which the top four teams advance to the playoffs.

APL 2026 Playoff Fixtures (June 28 – June 30)

Notably, June 28 features two playoff games back-to-back: the Eliminator in the afternoon and Qualifier 1 in the evening. This creates a thrilling double-header to kick off the knockout stage.

APL 2026 Teams And Captains

Seven franchises compete in the Andhra Premier League 2026, each representing a different city or region of Andhra Pradesh. Several of these teams boast India internationals as captains, which adds serious firepower to the league.

Star Players to Watch in APL 2026

Nitish Kumar Reddy is arguably the biggest name on this list. After his breakout IPL performances and India Test debut, he returned to lead the Bhimavaram Bulls. Similarly, Hanuma Vihari, an experienced India Test batter, captains the Capital Amaravati Royals and was named Player of the Season in APL 2025.

K.S. Bharat, the wicketkeeper-batter who has represented India in Tests and ODIs, leads the Kakinada Kings. Furthermore, Ricky Bhui and Ashwin Hebbar bring strong domestic cricket experience to their respective squads.

Shaik Rasheed, a promising young batter, captains the Royals of Rayalaseema. In fact, his inclusion reflects the APL’s core mission of grooming emerging Andhra cricketers for bigger stages.

APL 2026 Venues

For the first time in APL history, matches will be hosted across three stadiums instead of just one. As a result, the ACA aims to bring competitive cricket closer to fans across the state.

The multi-city approach is therefore a strategic move. By hosting games in Mangalgiri and Kadapa alongside Visakhapatnam, the ACA specifically aims to increase rural engagement and grow the tournament’s fanbase beyond the coast.

APL 2026 Tournament Format

The APL 2026 format follows a two-stage structure that mirrors the IPL’s playoff system. Here’s how it works.

League Stage (28 Matches)

All seven teams compete in an extended round-robin format. Specifically, each team plays 8 league matches, spread across 14 active match days. The top four teams on the points table then advance to the playoffs.

Playoffs (4 Matches)

This format essentially gives the top two teams a safety net. Even if they lose Qualifier 1, they still get another shot through Qualifier 2. However, for the 3rd and 4th placed teams, it’s do-or-die from the Eliminator onward.

APL 2026 Auction Highlights

The APL 2026 player auction took place on April 26, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Resort in Visakhapatnam. Several interesting numbers came out of the auction room.

The purse increase from ₹45 lakh to ₹55 lakh consequently gave teams more room to bid aggressively for local talent. Stephen Cheepurapalli emerged as the costliest pick, joining the defending champions for a hefty sum.

What’s also remarkable is the inclusion of K. Thaman, born in 2011, making him one of the youngest players ever picked in an Indian franchise league auction. That’s the kind of talent pipeline the APL is building.

APL Past Champions: Season-by-Season Winners

Four different teams have won the Andhra Premier League across its four completed seasons. So far, no franchise has managed to defend the title successfully, which keeps things unpredictable.

The Tungabhadra Warriors enter Season 5 as defending champions. They won a thrilling final in 2025, chasing down 195 with five wickets in hand against the Amaravati Royals.

Where to Watch APL 2026 Live

Fans can catch every ball of the APL 2026 through multiple platforms

So whether you prefer watching on TV or streaming on your phone, the APL 2026 has you covered. In particular, FanCode has been the go-to platform for domestic Indian cricket leagues.

How the Andhra Premier League Has Evolved Since 2022

The APL’s growth in just four years has been impressive. A quick comparison shows how far the league has come.

From a 19-match tournament at a single venue to a 32-match spectacle across three stadiums, the league has therefore scaled up significantly. Moreover, the addition of GMR Group as title sponsor and Star Sports Telugu as a broadcast partner shows growing commercial confidence.

Final Thoughts On The APL 2026 Schedule

The Andhra Premier League 2026 looks set to be the biggest edition yet. With three venues, 32 matches, India internationals leading every franchise, and back-to-back action across June, Season 5 consequently has all the ingredients for a thrilling cricket month.

Finally, keep an eye on the official APL schedule page for live updates, scores, and any fixture changes as the tournament unfolds.