The road to another blockbuster season of the Lanka Premier League Season 6 has officially begun, with player registrations now open and franchises preparing to build their squads ahead of the June 1 Players’ Draft.
The sixth edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place from July 17 to August 8, 2026.
One of the biggest talking points this season is the league’s revamped player structure and stricter eligibility framework. Each franchise must complete four mandatory direct signings before the draft, including one local Icon, one overseas Icon, one local Star, and one overseas Star player. These marquee signings are expected to command between USD 60,000 and 80,000.
The league has also doubled down on youth development. Every squad must include two local Emerging U23 players, with at least one uncapped Sri Lankan cricketer required in the squad, while one Emerging player must feature in every Playing XI.
In a major structural shift, franchises will not be allowed to retain players from previous seasons, ensuring all teams enter the draft with completely new combinations and strategies. The draft will consist of 14 mandatory rounds and two optional rounds, with squads allowed a maximum of four overseas players in the Playing XI at any given time.
The player eligibility criteria for overseas stars have also been raised significantly. Icon category players are now expected to have featured in at least 75 T20 internationals, played over 100 franchise T20 matches, and maintain strong commercial value with social media followings exceeding 250,000.
Off the field, the league continues to strengthen its commercial and digital footprint. Players will be required to actively participate in promotional campaigns across Instagram, Facebook, X, and Snapchat throughout different phases of the tournament, alongside fan engagement activations and media commitments.
The tournament has had a disrupted timeline in recent years. It was initially scheduled for late 2025, with provisional dates set between November 27 and December 23. However, Sri Lanka Cricket postponed the event, citing venue preparations ahead of the men’s T20 World Cup co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India earlier this year.
Following the World Cup, the league was tentatively expected to return in early March, but those plans did not materialise, extending the delay. The Lanka Premier League was originally launched in 2020 and has completed five editions, but has remained on hold since 2024.
This upcoming season therefore marks a significant revival moment for the competition. The latest plans also introduce an expansion in venues, with the tournament set to be staged across four grounds for the first time. The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground will join the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, while the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium complete the four-venue setup.
The registration deadline closes on May 20, while all direct signings must be completed by May 22.
The tournament will be conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket in partnership with The IPG Group, the official event rights holder.
The sixth edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place from July 17 to August 8, 2026.
One of the biggest talking points this season is the league’s revamped player structure and stricter eligibility framework. Each franchise must complete four mandatory direct signings before the draft, including one local Icon, one overseas Icon, one local Star, and one overseas Star player. These marquee signings are expected to command between USD 60,000 and 80,000.
The league has also doubled down on youth development. Every squad must include two local Emerging U23 players, with at least one uncapped Sri Lankan cricketer required in the squad, while one Emerging player must feature in every Playing XI.
In a major structural shift, franchises will not be allowed to retain players from previous seasons, ensuring all teams enter the draft with completely new combinations and strategies. The draft will consist of 14 mandatory rounds and two optional rounds, with squads allowed a maximum of four overseas players in the Playing XI at any given time.
The player eligibility criteria for overseas stars have also been raised significantly. Icon category players are now expected to have featured in at least 75 T20 internationals, played over 100 franchise T20 matches, and maintain strong commercial value with social media followings exceeding 250,000.
Off the field, the league continues to strengthen its commercial and digital footprint. Players will be required to actively participate in promotional campaigns across Instagram, Facebook, X, and Snapchat throughout different phases of the tournament, alongside fan engagement activations and media commitments.
The tournament has had a disrupted timeline in recent years. It was initially scheduled for late 2025, with provisional dates set between November 27 and December 23. However, Sri Lanka Cricket postponed the event, citing venue preparations ahead of the men’s T20 World Cup co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India earlier this year.
Following the World Cup, the league was tentatively expected to return in early March, but those plans did not materialise, extending the delay. The Lanka Premier League was originally launched in 2020 and has completed five editions, but has remained on hold since 2024.
This upcoming season therefore marks a significant revival moment for the competition. The latest plans also introduce an expansion in venues, with the tournament set to be staged across four grounds for the first time. The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground will join the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, while the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium complete the four-venue setup.
The registration deadline closes on May 20, while all direct signings must be completed by May 22.
The tournament will be conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket in partnership with The IPG Group, the official event rights holder.
