The Indian Super League 2026-27 season begins on 10 October 2026 and runs until May 2027. Thirteen clubs will play 163 matches across roughly eight months, including the playoffs.
The headline change: the traditional home-and-away round-robin format returns, after the shortened 2025-26 campaign was squeezed into a single-leg round robin. The playoffs come back with it.
What is confirmed
- Season start: 10 October 2026
- Season end: May 2027
- Teams: 13
- Matches: 163, including playoff fixtures
- Format: Home-and-away round robin
- Playoffs: Top six qualify
How the title works this season
There are two things to win, and they are not the same trophy.
- The Shield goes to the team that finishes top of the league stage. That is the side rewarded for consistency across the full home-and-away season, and it carries the slot in Asian club competition.
- The ISL Cup goes to the winner of the playoffs, contested by the top six finishers.
After a season without playoffs, this restores the structure Indian football fans are used to — a league champion and a knockout champion, potentially two different clubs.
The 13 clubs
- Bengaluru FC
- Chennaiyin FC
- Churchill Brothers FC
- East Bengal FC
- FC Goa
- Inter Kashi FC
- Kerala Blasters FC
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- Mumbai City FC
- NorthEast United FC
- Odisha FC
- Punjab FC
- Sporting Club Delhi
Churchill Brothers' participation remains conditional on regulatory compliance and approvals. It is not a settled entry until those clear.
What is not confirmed yet
Two things people are searching for that genuinely do not have answers yet:
- The full fixture list has not been released. There is no match-by-match time table, and the league has not announced when it will publish one. ISL fixtures are typically released a few weeks before kick-off, once broadcast and travel logistics are locked — but that is precedent, not an announcement.
- The broadcaster and streaming partner have not been confirmed for 2026-27. Any "watch on X" claim circulating right now is speculation.
That also means the opening fixture is unknown. The 10 October date is confirmed; which two clubs play that day is not.
FAQ
When does ISL 2026-27 start?
10 October 2026. The season runs through to May 2027.
What is the first match of ISL 2026-27?
Not announced. The league has confirmed the 10 October start date but has not released the fixture list, so the opening fixture is still unknown.
How many teams are in ISL 2026-27?
Thirteen, with Churchill Brothers' entry subject to regulatory approvals.
How many matches will be played?
163 in total, including the playoff fixtures, spread across about eight months.
Are the ISL playoffs back?
Yes. The top six teams in the league standings qualify for the playoffs and compete for the ISL Cup, after a 2025-26 season played without them.
Where can I watch ISL 2026-27 in India?
The broadcast and streaming rights for this season have not been announced. We will update this page when the league confirms a partner.
Has the ISL 2026-27 schedule PDF been released?
No. Sites offering a downloadable 2026-27 time table are not working from an official release — the league has not published one.