New Delhi, Oct 25: The Hockey India has announced the schedule for the 2025–26 season of both the Men’s and Women’s leagues and as per the announcement Bhubaneswar has been named among three key cities to host the matches.

The schedule was announced at a press conference held at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh AstroTurf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi.

The new season will feature the men’s league in three key cities: Chennai, Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar.

Meanwhile, the women’s league will return to Ranchi, continuing the successful format from last year.

The men’s HIL will commence on 3rd January 2026 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai with an exciting opening match between the home team Tamil Nadu Dragons and Hyderabad Toofans, setting the stage for nearly a month of top-tier hockey.

The league will include eight teams: Tamil Nadu Dragons, Hyderabad Toofans, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (defending champions), Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, Ranchi Royals, SG Pipers, and the HIL Governing Council.

The women’s HIL is set to start on December 28, 2025, at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium in Ranchi. The opening match will feature Ranchi Royals against SG Pipers, followed by a week of intense competition among the four teams: Ranchi Royals, SG Pipers, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, and Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers.

The men’s HIL 2025–26 will take place in three energetic cities passionate about hockey, celebrating the sport nationwide. The first leg kicks off in Chennai from January 3 to 9 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, where teams will begin their campaigns.

Also read: Ranji Trophy 2025: Odisha To Face Uttar Pradesh At Kanpur’s Green Park

The tournament then moves to Ranchi for the second leg, scheduled from January 11 to 16 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium. Finally, the third and concluding leg will be held from January 17 to 26 at the renowned Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Each team will play each other once in a single round-robin format, with the top four qualifying for the playoffs. The knockout stage includes Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator on 23 January, followed by Qualifier 2 on 25 January, all held in Bhubaneswar. The season concludes with a grand finale on 26 January 2026 at the Kalinga Stadium, featuring the 3rd/4th place match in the evening, followed by the highly anticipated Final to determine the new HIL champions.

A total of 13 matches are scheduled for the women’s HIL, while the men’s HIL will feature 33 exciting games. The Women’s League includes players from over 10 countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Argentina, Australia, Spain, and Great Britain, adding a diverse, global element to the event.

Likewise, the men’s League will feature international players from more than 10 nations, including Argentina, Belgium, Germany, England, Spain, and Australia, promising high-level competition and intense hockey action throughout the season.