ISL 2026-27 begins on October 10, 2026, with Bengaluru FC hosting Sporting Club Delhi at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. FC Goa then hosts Chennaiyin FC at Fatorda Stadium.
Thirteen clubs will play in the new season.
The league returns to a full home-and-away format after the shortened 2025-26 campaign. Phase 1 runs until January 17, 2027, and contains 78 matches. The league has not yet released Phase 2 or the playoff schedule.
ISL 2026-27 live streaming also looks different.
YouTube will stream all 163 matches for free. Sony Sports Network will show the league on television in India. SonyLIV will stream all 163 matches online.
East Bengal enter as the defending champions.
Their first match comes on October 18 against Churchill Brothers.
The first Kolkata derby arrives on November 29.
The new season has plenty to watch before the first ball is kicked.
ISL 2026-27 at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Season | ISL 2026-27 |
| League name | MG Indian Super League |
| Start date | October 10, 2026 |
| Teams | 13 |
| Total matches | 163 |
| Phase 1 matches | 78 |
| Phase 1 end | January 17, 2027 |
| Format | Home and away |
| Free streaming | YouTube |
| TV broadcaster | Sony Sports Network |
| Digital streaming | SonyLIV |
| Defending champions | East Bengal FC |
| First match | Bengaluru FC vs Sporting Club Delhi |
| First Kolkata derby | November 29, 2026 |
The league has a new title sponsor for 2026-27. JSW MG Motor India has become the title sponsor, so the competition is now called the MG Indian Super League.
ISL 2026-27 schedule
ISL 2026 schedule starts with two matches on October 10.
Bengaluru FC host Sporting Club Delhi at 5:00 PM IST.
FC Goa host Chennaiyin FC at 7:30 PM IST.
The opening weekend then moves to Inter Kashi, Kerala Blasters, Churchill Brothers, Mumbai City and Mohun Bagan.
The official ISL schedule lists the fixtures, venues and participating clubs.
ISL 2026-27 opening fixtures
| Date | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 10 | Bengaluru FC vs Sporting Club Delhi | 5:00 PM | Sree Kanteerava Stadium |
| Oct. 10 | FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC | 7:30 PM | Fatorda Stadium |
| Oct. 11 | Inter Kashi vs Kerala Blasters FC | 5:00 PM | TBC |
| Oct. 11 | Churchill Brothers vs Mumbai City FC | 7:30 PM | Fatorda Stadium |
| Oct. 12 | NorthEast United FC vs Mohun Bagan | 7:30 PM | Guwahati |
| Oct. 14 | Punjab FC vs Odisha FC | 7:30 PM | New Delhi |
| Oct. 16 | Sporting Club Delhi vs Mohun Bagan | 7:30 PM | New Delhi |
| Oct. 17 | Inter Kashi vs Odisha FC | 6:00 PM | TBC |
| Oct. 17 | Bengaluru FC vs Chennaiyin FC | 7:30 PM | Bengaluru |
| Oct. 18 | Churchill Brothers vs East Bengal FC | 5:00 PM | Fatorda Stadium |
The published fixture list shows the opening matches and their current times. Inter Kashi’s home venue remains unconfirmed.
ISL 2026-27 teams
ISL 2026-27 teams: 13.
They are:
- Bengaluru FC
- Chennaiyin FC
- Churchill Brothers
- East Bengal FC
- FC Goa
- Inter Kashi
- Kerala Blasters FC
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- Mumbai City FC
- NorthEast United FC
- Odisha FC
- Punjab FC
- Sporting Club Delhi
The official league site lists all 13 clubs in its 2026-27 schedule and standings.
The list contains several familiar names.
Bengaluru have a long history in the competition. Mumbai City remain one of the league’s major clubs. Kerala Blasters bring one of the biggest fan bases. East Bengal and Mohun Bagan bring the Kolkata rivalry.
Then there are newer stories.
Inter Kashi are part of the 13-team field. Sporting Club Delhi will open their campaign against Bengaluru.
That mix gives the league a different look from the shortened season before it.
ISL 2026-27 Phase 1 schedule
ISL 2026-27 fixtures currently run through January 17.
Phase 1 contains 78 matches.
The schedule has a strong weekend focus. Fifty-three of the 78 Phase 1 matches are scheduled for Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.
That matters for the league.
More weekend games mean more room for the biggest fixtures to sit in the center of the football week.
October 2026
The first month brings the season back to life.
Bengaluru FC open against Sporting Club Delhi.
FC Goa face Chennaiyin FC.
East Bengal wait until October 18 because of their AFC commitments.
The champions then begin their title defence against Churchill Brothers.
November 2026
November brings one of the league’s biggest fixtures.
East Bengal host Mohun Bagan on November 29.
The league also pauses for the FIFA international window from November 7 to November 20. No ISL matches are scheduled during that period.
December 2026
December brings the first Goa Derby in ISL history.
Churchill Brothers face FC Goa at Fatorda Stadium on December 13.
Manipur also gets its first ISL fixture.
NorthEast United are scheduled to host Sporting Club Delhi at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal on November 24.
January 2027
Phase 1 closes on January 17.
The final day includes Sporting Club Delhi vs Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC vs NorthEast United FC.
The next phase has not yet received a full fixture list.
East Bengal start the title defence
ISL 2026-27 begins with East Bengal carrying the biggest piece of unfinished business.
The club won the 2025-26 national title after a 22-year wait.
Now comes the harder part.
Defending it.
East Bengal do not play during the opening weekend. Their AFC commitments keep them out of the first round of fixtures.
Their campaign starts on October 18 against Churchill Brothers.
That gives East Bengal a different opening from most of their rivals.
They will watch the first weekend before entering the race themselves.
Mohun Bagan begins in Guwahati
ISL 2026-27 schedule gives Mohun Bagan an away start.
They face NorthEast United on October 12.
The match comes at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.
Mohun Bagan then face Sporting Club Delhi away on October 16 before the season moves deeper into its first month.
For a club with title ambitions, the opening road games matter.
There is little room for a slow start.
First Kolkata Derby
ISL 2026-27 fixtures include the first Kolkata derby on November 29.
East Bengal will host Mohun Bagan at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
The match comes after the season’s opening weeks.
Both teams will have time to settle.
Neither will need an introduction to the stakes.
The Kolkata derby has its own history. The 2026-27 meeting adds another chapter.
ISL 2026-27 live streaming
ISL live streaming 2026 has one major new feature.
YouTube will carry every match for free.
All 163 matches will stream live on the platform. The coverage will also be available worldwide.
That removes the subscription barrier for fans who want to follow the league online.
It also gives the ISL a much wider digital audience.
YouTube will carry English and Hindi coverage.
Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV will offer coverage in five languages: English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Bengali.
Is ISL 2026-27 free on YouTube?
ISL live streaming is free for the full season.
Yes.
YouTube will stream all 163 matches live without a subscription.
Fans can watch the league on the platform in India and around the world.
The change gives the ISL a simple viewing option.
Open YouTube.
Find the official ISL coverage.
Watch the match.
No paid digital subscription is needed for the YouTube feed.
ISL 2026-27 TV channel
ISL 2026-27 TV channel coverage will come from Sony Sports Network.
Sony has the television rights in India.
Sony Sports Network will show up to 120 matches on television, according to current reporting. SonyLIV will carry all 163 matches online.
The TV coverage will also use five languages:
- English
- Hindi
- Bengali
- Tamil
- Malayalam
Regional feeds will appear when clubs from those regions play.
Is ISL 2026-27 on SonyLIV?
ISL live streaming 2026 will also be available on SonyLIV.
SonyLIV will stream all 163 matches.
The service will provide the same season that fans can follow through the free YouTube feed, but with its own broadcast presentation.
The five-language coverage also gives SonyLIV a regional reach across Indian football markets.
ISL 2026-27 broadcast languages
ISL 2026-27 broadcast will use different language feeds across the platforms.
| Platform | Languages |
|---|---|
| YouTube | English, Hindi |
| Sony Sports Network | English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam |
| SonyLIV | English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam |
The league will also bring back pre-match, half-time, and post-match analysis shows. Those shows will come from stadium locations.
That gives the new broadcast package more than match coverage.
It gives fans a longer show around each game.
ISL 2026-27 format
ISL 2026-27 format returns to the full home-and-away system.
That marks a clear change from the shortened 2025-26 campaign.
The 13 clubs will play through the league phase before the playoffs.
The playoff stage will decide the ISL Cup winner.
The top six teams at the end of Phase 1 will move into the playoff race. The league has not yet released the full Phase 2 and playoff fixture details.
The ISL therefore has two races to follow.
One runs through the league table.
The other leads to the Cup.
How many matches are in ISL 2026-27?
ISL 2026-27 will have 163 matches.
Phase 1 contains 78.
The first phase runs from October 10 to January 17.
The rest of the calendar will come after the league announces Phase 2 and the playoff fixtures.
The official schedule already lists the current Phase 1 fixtures.
ISL 2026-27 key dates
ISL 2026-27 start date: October 10, 2026.
Opening match: Bengaluru FC vs Sporting Club Delhi.
Second opening-day match: FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC.
East Bengal title defence: October 18.
First Kolkata derby: November 29.
FIFA international break: November 7 to November 20.
Phase 1 ends: January 17, 2027.
Phase 2: To be announced.
Playoffs: To be announced.
Matches to watch
ISL 2026-27 schedule already has several fixtures that stand above the rest.
Bengaluru FC vs Sporting Club Delhi
This is the opener.
Bengaluru get home advantage.
Sporting Club Delhi get the first chance to set the tone for their season.
The match also puts a new club in the center of the opening night.
FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC
The second game begins only a few hours later.
FC Goa have home advantage.
Chennaiyin arrive with a chance to take points from one of the league’s regular contenders.
The match gives fans a second opening-night story.
Churchill Brothers vs East Bengal
This one carries a different weight.
East Bengal are the defending champions.
Churchill Brothers get the first shot at them.
The match comes on October 18.
East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan
Then comes the derby.
November 29.
East Bengal at home.
Mohun Bagan across the pitch.
For the league, it is one date.
For Kolkata, it is much more than that.
New places and new matchups
ISL 2026-27 teams will take the league to some different settings.
Manipur will host an ISL match for the first time when NorthEast United meet Sporting Club Delhi in Imphal on November 24.
The season also brings the first Goa Derby between Churchill Brothers and FC Goa on December 13.
Those fixtures give the schedule more than the usual club rivalries.
They add new places.
They add new matchups.
And they give the season a few dates that fans can circle early.
ISL 2026-27 points table
ISL 2026-27 points table starts with every club on zero points.
The official standings currently list all 13 teams with no matches played.
The table will track:
- Matches played
- Wins
- Draws
- Losses
- Goals for
- Goals against
- Goal difference
- Points
- Recent form
The standings will become more important after every matchday.
For now, there is no leader.
There is no title race.
There are only 13 clubs waiting for the first whistle.
What changed for ISL 2026-27?
ISL 2026-27 brings the competition back to a longer season.
The league returns to home-and-away football.
The schedule contains 163 matches.
Thirteen clubs will compete.
The title sponsor has changed.
The broadcast deal has changed.
And the biggest viewing change is simple.
Every match will be free on YouTube.
The league also returns with studio coverage around matches.
Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV will provide five-language coverage.
YouTube will provide English and Hindi feeds.
For fans, the new season offers more matches and more ways to watch them.
FAQs of ISL 2026-27
ISL 2026-27 starts on October 10, 2026. Bengaluru FC hosts Sporting Club Delhi at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the opening match. FC Goa then hosts Chennaiyin FC at 7:30 PM IST.
ISL 2026-27 has 13 teams. The clubs include Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, and Sporting Club Delhi.
Fans can watch ISL 2026-27 on YouTube, Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV. YouTube will stream all 163 matches for free. Sony Sports Network will show the league on television, while SonyLIV will stream every match online.
Yes. YouTube will stream every ISL 2026-27 match live and free. The full season contains 163 matches. The YouTube coverage will be available in English and Hindi.
Yes. SonyLIV will stream all 163 matches of ISL 2026-27. Its coverage will include English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Malayalam.
East Bengal FC are the defending champions. They won the 2025-26 national title and begin their 2026-27 campaign against Churchill Brothers on October 18.
ISL 2026-27: The season ahead
The first whistle comes in Bengaluru.
Then the schedule moves quickly.
Goa. Guwahati. Delhi. Kolkata. Kochi. Mumbai. Chennai.
Thirteen clubs will chase the same prize.
East Bengal start with the target on their backs.
Mohun Bagan want the title.
Bengaluru open at home.
FC Goa start with a derby of their own later in the campaign.
And the fans get something they did not have before.
Every match is available free on YouTube.
The 2026-27 ISL season starts October 10.
The first phase ends January 17.
The rest of the story will follow after that.
Keep up to date with Sports Dribble and its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for updates!
Krishanu Das is the founder and lead writer of Sports Dribble. With more than five years of experience in sports writing, he specializes in creating well-researched guides, sports rules, player rankings, tournament explainers, and match analysis across cricket, football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and many other sports.
Although he works as an accountant by profession, sports have always been his lifelong interest. That passion inspired him to build Sports Dribble, where he focuses on publishing accurate, easy-to-understand, and regularly updated content for sports fans around the world.
Before every article is published, Krishanu researches official rulebooks, governing bodies, tournament regulations, trusted statistics, and reliable sources to ensure readers receive factual and up-to-date information. His goal is simple: help every reader understand the game with clear explanations, practical insights, and information they can trust.
