The Hockey India League 2025-26 season is set to kick-start on December 28 in Ranchi with the women’s tournament while the men’s event will commence on January 3.
The men’s league will be played across Chennai, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar, while the women’s edition will once again be held entirely in Ranchi.
The women’s tournament– comprising 13 games- will begin at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda AstroTurf Stadium in Ranchi, with Ranchi Royals taking on SG Pipers in the opener.
The men’s hockey competition- featuring 33 matches- start at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai, with home side Tamil Nadu Dragons facing Hyderabad Toofans in the opener.
Hockey India League 2025-26: Format
The Women’s HIL will be played in a double round-robin format, with each of the four teams meeting every other side twice during the league stage. The top two teams on the points table will advance to the final on January 10, 2026.
Read More
In the men’s competition, each team will play the others once in a single round-robin format, with the top four sides progressing to the playoffs.
The knockout phase of Hockey India League 2025-26 will be staged in Bhubaneswar, featuring Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator on January 23, followed by Qualifier 2 on January 25.
The season will conclude with a final on January 26, 2026, at the Kalinga Stadium, where the third-place playoff will precede the championship match to determine the new Hockey India League champions.
Read More
Hockey India League 2025-26: Teams
The women’s field will include four teams which are as follows:
- Ranchi Royals
- SG Pipers
- Soorma Hockey Club
- Rarh Bengal Tigers
The men’s edition will feature eight teams which are as follows:
- Tamil Nadu Dragons
- Hyderabad Toofans
- Soorma Hockey Club
- Rarh Bengal Tigers (defending champions)
- Kalinga Lancers, Ranchi Royals
- SG Pipers
- HIL Governing Council
The HIL Governing Council has taken over the operations of the UP Rudras franchise, following the exit of its owners, until it finds a buyer. Team Gonasika (men’s) and Odisha Warriors (women’s), who competed last season, have withdrawn from the tournament.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Expensive Players In History Of Hockey India League
Hockey India League 2026: Schedule
Women’s Hockey India League 2025-26 matches list
| Date | Day | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28 | Sunday | Ranchi Royals vs SG Pipers | 7:30 PM | Ranchi |
| Dec 29 | Monday | Soorma Hockey Club vs Rarh Bengal Tigers | 7:30 PM | Ranchi |
| Dec 30 | Tuesday | Ranchi Royals vs Rarh Bengal Tigers | 7:30 PM | Ranchi |
| Dec 31 | Wednesday | SG Pipers vs Soorma Hockey Club | 7:30 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 1 | Thursday | SG Pipers vs Rarh Bengal Tigers | 7:30 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 2 | Friday | Ranchi Royals vs Soorma Hockey Club | 7:30 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 3 | Saturday | Soorma Hockey Club vs SG Pipers | 5:30 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 4 | Sunday | Rarh Bengal Tigers vs Ranchi Royals | 4:00 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 5 | Monday | Soorma Hockey Club vs Ranchi Royals | 6:00 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 6 | Tuesday | SG Pipers vs Rarh Bengal Tigers | 6:00 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 7 | Wednesday | Rarh Bengal Tigers vs Soorma Hockey Club | 4:00 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 8 | Thursday | SG Pipers vs Ranchi Royals | 6:00 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 10 | Saturday | Final | 8:15 PM | Ranchi |
Men’s Hockey India League 2026 matches list
| Date | Day | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3 | Saturday | Tamil Nadu Dragons vs Hyderabad Toofans | 8:15 PM | Chennai |
| Jan 4 | Sunday | Soorma Hockey Club vs Rarh Bengal Tigers | 6:15 PM | Chennai |
| Kalinga Lancers vs Ranchi Royals | 8:15 PM | Chennai | ||
| Jan 5 | Monday | SG Pipers vs HIL GC | 8:15 PM | Chennai |
| Jan 6 | Tuesday | Tamil Nadu Dragons vs Soorma Hockey Club | 8:15 PM | Chennai |
| Jan 7 | Wednesday | HIL GC vs Rarh Bengal Tigers | 6:15 PM | Chennai |
| Hyderabad Toofans vs Ranchi Royals | 8:15 PM | Chennai | ||
| Jan 8 | Thursday | Rarh Bengal Tigers vs Kalinga Lancers | 8:15 PM | Chennai |
| Jan 9 | Friday | Hyderabad Toofans vs Soorma Hockey Club | 6:15 PM | Chennai |
| Tamil Nadu Dragons vs SG Pipers | 8:15 PM | Chennai | ||
| Jan 11 | Sunday | HIL GC vs Kalinga Lancers | 6:15 PM | Ranchi |
| Ranchi Royals vs Rarh Bengal Tigers | 8:15 PM | Ranchi | ||
| Jan 12 | Monday | SG Pipers vs Hyderabad Toofans | 6:15 PM | Ranchi |
| HIL GC vs Tamil Nadu Dragons | 8:15 PM | Ranchi | ||
| Jan 13 | Tuesday | Rarh Bengal Tigers vs Tamil Nadu Dragons | 8:15 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 14 | Wednesday | Hyderabad Toofans vs Kalinga Lancers | 6:15 PM | Ranchi |
| Ranchi Royals vs SG Pipers | 8:15 PM | Ranchi | ||
| Jan 15 | Thursday | Soorma Hockey Club vs HIL GC | 8:15 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 16 | Friday | Ranchi Royals vs Soorma Hockey Club | 8:15 PM | Ranchi |
| Jan 17 | Saturday | Rarh Bengal Tigers vs Hyderabad Toofans | 6:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Kalinga Lancers vs SG Pipers | 8:15 PM | Bhubaneswar | ||
| Jan 18 | Sunday | SG Pipers vs Rarh Bengal Tigers | 6:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Kalinga Lancers vs Tamil Nadu Dragons | 8:15 PM | Bhubaneswar | ||
| Jan 19 | Monday | HIL GC vs Ranchi Royals | 6:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Jan 20 | Tuesday | Hyderabad Toofans vs HIL GC | 6:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Kalinga Lancers vs Soorma Hockey Club | 8:15 PM | Bhubaneswar | ||
| Jan 21 | Wednesday | Tamil Nadu Dragons vs Ranchi Royals | 8:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Jan 22 | Thursday | Soorma Hockey Club vs SG Pipers | 8:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Jan 23 | Friday | Qualifier 1 | 6:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Eliminator | 8:15 PM | Bhubaneswar | ||
| Jan 25 | Sunday | Qualifier 2 | 6:00 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Jan 26 | Monday | 3rd / 4th Place | 6:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
| Final | 8:15 PM | Bhubaneswar |
