Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished IPL 2026 on a memorable note by securing their second consecutive title. RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, capping off another successful campaign.
The championship clash also emerged as the most-watched match of the season on Jio Hotstar. According to reported viewership figures, the final attracted 551 million viewers on the streaming platform, making it the biggest digital audience of IPL 2026.
Although the number was lower than the 678 million views recorded during the 2025 final between RCB and Punjab Kings, it still comfortably topped the viewership charts for the 2026 season.
RCB’s popularity was evident throughout the tournament. The franchise featured in the four most-watched matches on Jio Hotstar, underlining its ability to attract large audiences across different stages of the competition.
The final against Gujarat Titans led the list with 551 million views. It was followed by RCB’s matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Mumbai Indians, which reportedly recorded 434 million, 413 million, and 410 million views respectively.
Even before the playoffs, RCB was driving strong audience engagement. The league-stage clash between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad reportedly attracted 426 million viewers, making it the most-watched match of the season before the knockout rounds began.
When television and digital viewership figures were combined, Chennai Super Kings reportedly recorded the highest average audience per match. The franchise averaged 308 million viewers, narrowly ahead of RCB, which registered an average of 303 million viewers per game.
Mumbai Indians occupied the third position with an average viewership of 293 million. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders completed the top five, highlighting the strong fan following enjoyed by several leading IPL franchises.
The viewership numbers once again demonstrated the massive popularity of the IPL and the significant role RCB played in driving audience engagement throughout the 2026 season.
