The Indian Super League is set for a significant change in 2026-27, with the competition returning to a traditional home-and-away format and the playoffs making their comeback after a shortened campaign last season.
The new season will kick off on October 10, 2026, and is scheduled to run until May 2027. The eight-month campaign will feature 163 matches, including the playoffs, as 13 clubs compete for the ISL Shield and championship.
The changes mark a return to a more familiar format for India’s top-flight competition after the 2025-26 season was played as a single-leg round-robin tournament.
Last season, each of the 14 participating clubs
Last season, each of the 14 participating clubs played 13 matches, with East Bengal eventually finishing top of the standings on goal difference ahead of Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The result secured East Bengal their maiden ISL title.
The 2026-27 season, however, will look considerably different.
The league will once again operate on a home-and-away basis, giving clubs the opportunity to play in front of their own supporters throughout the campaign while also travelling across the country for away fixtures.
Under the new club-led model, the team finishing at the top of the league standings will be crowned Shield Winners and the official ISL champions, while also securing a place in Asian competition.
The return of the playoffs will provide another route to the ISL trophy.
The top six teams at the end
The top six teams at the end of the league phase will qualify for the playoffs, where they will compete for the championship. That creates the prospect of two distinct battles throughout the season – one for the top of the table and the Shield, and another for the ultimate ISL trophy.
There will also be a number of changes to the league’s lineup.
The 13 clubs currently set to compete are East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC, Inter Kashi FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers FC and Sporting Club Delhi.
Churchill Brothers’ participation, however, remains subject to regulatory approval.
One of the more significant developments concerns Diamond Harbour FC. The club earned promotion to the ISL after winning the Indian Football League in 2025-26 but will not take up its promoted position after failing to meet the administrative requirements for the new season.
Diamond Harbour FC will instead be placed
Diamond Harbour FC will instead be placed at the bottom of the table and relegated to the Indian Football League for the 2027-28 campaign.
At the other end of the table, East Bengal will enter the season with the pressure that comes with being the defending Shield winners.
Their 2025-26 triumph was particularly significant, with the Kolkata-based club collecting 26 points and edging out Mohun Bagan on goal difference. They will now attempt to build on that success in a considerably longer and more demanding campaign.
Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, will be among the clubs
Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, will be among the clubs looking to challenge for the top spot, while established contenders such as Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters will also be hoping to mount a serious challenge.
The return to a full home-and-away schedule could prove particularly important for clubs and supporters alike. After last season’s compressed format, teams will once again have the opportunity to build momentum over a longer campaign, while home fixtures will bring back an important part of the matchday experience.
With the season beginning on October 10, the 2026-27 ISL promises to be a significant reset for Indian football’s premier league.
A longer campaign, 13 clubs, the return
A longer campaign, 13 clubs, the return of home-and-away fixtures and the playoffs mean that the competition will once again have the structure and scale associated with the ISL.
The question now is whether East Bengal can defend their position at the top or whether a new champion will emerge when the season concludes in May 2027.
Source: t2online.in
