The Indian Super League 2026-27 season will start on October 10 and run until May 2027, the league confirmed on September 5. This particular season witnesses the return of the home and away system for 163 games spanning eight months among 13 teams.
Additionally, the league has officially endorsed the introduction of a new club-driven system for the running of the league. With this system, there will be increased participation from the ISL clubs in decision making, the aim being increased investment in the local talent as well as the sustainability of the sport.
ISL 2026-27 Tournament Overview
Here is the complete tournament overview from 2026-27 Indian Super League Season:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Start date | October 10, 2026 |
| End date | May 2027 |
| Duration | 8 months |
| Number of teams | 13 |
| Total matches | 163 |
| Format | Round-robin, home and away |
| League title | League Shield (ISL Champions) |
| Playoffs | Top 6 teams contest the ISL Cup |
| Asian qualification | Shield winner enters Asian club competition |
| Governance | New club-led model, with AIFF |
| Defending champions | East Bengal FC (2025-26 Shield) |
Each club faces each other team once at their own home ground as well as once away in the league phase. The winner of the league phase is declared Shield Winner and also considered the official champion of the ISL season to enter in the continental clubs competition.
There will also be playoffs this year. The top six teams will play for the ISL Cup via another knock-out phase.
Participating Teams For ISL 2026-27
The participating teams include Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Inter Kashi FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC and Sporting Club Delhi.
| Club | ISL Titles | League Shields |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru FC | 1 | 0 |
| Chennaiyin FC | 2 | 0 |
| Churchill Brothers FC* | 0 | 0 |
| East Bengal FC | 1 | 0 |
| FC Goa | 0 | 1 |
| Inter Kashi FC | 0 | 0 |
| Kerala Blasters FC | 0 | 0 |
| Mohun Bagan Super Giant | 2 | 2 |
| Mumbai City FC | 2 | 2 |
| NorthEast United FC | 0 | 0 |
| Odisha FC | 0 | 0 |
| Punjab FC | 0 | 0 |
| Sporting Club Delhi | 0 | 0 |
Diamond Harbour FC, who got a promotion because they won the Indian Football League championship for the year 2025-26, will not be participating in the next ISL season because they have not met the administrative fee criteria for their promoted position.
In accordance with the promotion and relegation policies of the league, Diamond Harbour will be placed at the bottom of the table with no points and will not have an ISL license for the season 2027-28.
East Bengal Enter ISL 2026-27 as Defending Champions
East Bengal FC became the first team to lift the ISL trophy in the 2025-26 season, ending as the league’s highest placed side on the last day. This was an end to a long 22 years of drought without winning a premier division league after defeating Inter Kashi FC 2-1 away from home through goals scored by Youssef Ezzejjari and Md Rashid.
The league was held on an abbreviated schedule with administrative holdups moving the beginning of the season to February 14, 2026 and single leg round robin format in place of the customary home and away format, resulting in a total of 91 games during the one leg round robin league schedule without playoffs.
