The 2026 edition of the Durand Cup will be held from July 25 to August 23, with 24 teams, including two foreign clubs, set to compete in one of India’s oldest and most prestigious football tournaments. The organising committee confirmed the tournament schedule on Thursday.

This year’s competition will be staged across five host cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Imphal and Shillong. Ranchi will make history by hosting Durand Cup matches for the first time, marking a significant addition to the tournament’s footprint.

A total of six stadiums will stage matches during the month-long event. Kolkata will host games at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and the Kishore Bharati Krirangan. The other venues include Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

The tournament will once again feature a diverse field of participants, bringing together leading Indian football clubs, Services teams and two international sides. Organisers said further details regarding the competing teams, group allocations, match fixtures and the knockout stage schedule will be announced at a later date.

The Durand Cup continues to serve as an important platform for clubs to begin their domestic campaigns while providing fans with high-quality football across multiple regions of the country.

NorthEast United FC will enter the tournament as the defending champions after a dominant performance in the 2025 final. The club lifted the title with a commanding 6-1 victory over Diamond Harbour, securing one of the most emphatic wins in the competition’s recent history.

With matches spread across five cities and a mix of domestic and international teams set to participate, the 2026 edition promises another month of competitive football as clubs battle for one of Indian football’s most historic trophies.