The Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 season is set to be exciting, with the Galle franchise signing one of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL teammates before the draft. The sixth season of the LPL will be held from July 10 to August 5. Last year, there were tentative dates from November 27 to December 23 for this iteration, which was initially planned for late 2025.
Sri Lanka Cricket postponed the tournament to ensure the venues were ready for the men’s T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India in February and March. Before the tournament starts in July, the Lanka Premier League 2026 will hold a player draft. The 2026 season will feature five teams from Jaffna, Colombo, Kandy, Galle, and Dambulla.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Portal Opens | May 8 |
| Registration Deadline | May 20 |
| Direct Signing Deadline | May 22 |
| Player Draft Date | June 1 |
| Squad Size | Minimum 18 players |
| Maximum Squad Size | 20 players (including up to 2 local players) |
| Under-23 Rule | At least 2 Emerging players in each squad |
| Mandatory U-23 Inclusion | One U-23 player must be in the starting lineup |
| Overseas Players Limit | Maximum 4 foreign players in the starting XI |
Lanka Premier League 2026: Confirmed Pre-Draft Signings
| Franchise | Players Signed |
|---|---|
| Dambulla Sixers | Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal |
| Jaffna Kings | Dunith Wellalage, Bhanuka Rajapaksa |
| Galle Gallants | Dasun Shanaka, Eshan Malinga |
| Kandy Falcons | Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews |
| Colombo Kaps | Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis |