The iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium is OUT for IPL 2026 after the tragic stampede controversy. Defending champions RCB are set to shift their home base to Pune’s MCA Stadium. We break down the safety concerns and the impact on the passionate RCB fan base.
RCB Lose Chinnaswamy IPL 2026 Home Venue Pune MCA Stadium
In a development that will send a wave of shock and disappointment through the league’s most dedicated supporters, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to lose their iconic home venue, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, for the entire IPL 2026 season. This move, which marks the first time since the inaugural 2008 season (excluding pandemic-affected years) that RCB will be without its traditional fortress, is the painful fallout of the tragic Chinnaswamy stampede that marred the team’s maiden IPL 2025 victory celebrations.
The controversy-hit venue has been under intense scrutiny since the unfortunate events of June 4, 2025. Following the team’s long-awaited title win, a large, poorly managed crowd gathered outside the stadium for a victory parade, leading to a catastrophic crush that claimed 11 lives and injured dozens. Subsequent inquiries by a judicial panel and the Karnataka state government led to the venue being declared unsafe and unsuitable for mass gatherings dueiting to its “design and structure” and critical safety lapses by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
