Fresh off hosting its inaugural floodlit game at the T20 World Cup, the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo is set to make its debut as a venue for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2026, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced. The sixth season of the LPL will run from July 10 to August 5.

The confirmed window marks a return to the tournament’s familiar mid-year slot. This edition was originally scheduled for late 2025, with provisional dates from November 27 to December 23 last year. However, SLC explained the postponement as a strategic decision to ensure that its venues were fully prepared for the men’s T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka co-hosted with India in February and March. The LPL was then mooted to be held in early March, shortly after the World Cup, but those dates came and went.

This latest announcement marks the first time the tournament will be held at four venues, with SSC becoming the second Colombo venue alongside the R Premadasa Stadium. Pallekele and Dambulla are the other two venues.

Traditionally celebrated as the home of Sri Lankan cricket and a premier Test venue, the SSC’s inclusion is a milestone for the tournament. The ground recently underwent a transformation to host five games in the T20 World Cup, including the opening fixture between Pakistan and Netherlands. Having successfully hosted its first international matches under new floodlights, the SSC with its central Colombo locale and grass embankments will no doubt be primed to host the LPL’s night fixtures.

While there were murmurs surrounding the addition of a sixth team, the lack of any announcement in that regard means it will likely remain a five-team tournament. ESPNcricinfo also understands that several franchises will be under new ownership, though no official announcements have been made yet.

Player interest is expected to be high, with the online portal for foreign player registration set to open on May 4. However, the LPL will overlap with three other franchise tournaments – Major League Cricket, The Hundred and Global T20 Canada – so attracting the best talent could be a challenge.