HOCKEY INDIA has confirmed that fans will be able to attend the upcoming Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 free of charge, in a move aimed at widening access and boosting stadium attendance.
The Women’s HIL will begin on 28 December in Ranchi and conclude on 10 January 2026. The Men’s HIL is scheduled to start on 3 January 2026 in Chennai, before moving to Ranchi from 11 January, with the final leg taking place in Bhubaneswar from 17 to 26 January 2026.
Ticket distribution for the Ranchi leg of the HIL went live on Monday, while tickets for the Men’s HIL matches in Chennai will be released on Wednesday. Free tickets can be booked via Ticket Genie’s website and mobile application.
The 2025–26 edition of the HIL will feature eight men’s teams and four women’s teams. Both competitions will be played in newly revamped formats, fast-paced and high-intensity action for fans throughout the season.
HIL governing committee chairperson Dr Dilip Tirkey said, “We have once again decided to offer free tickets for hockey fans to come and enjoy all the matches across Chennai, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar. While the women’s matches will be in Ranchi, the Men’s HIL will be played across three cities. We want to fill the hockey stands with fans who wish to see their favourite stars in action. We will have some of the world’s top players this season and we are eager to witness some fantastic hockey over the span of a month.”
HIL governing committee member Bhola Nath Singh added, “Hero HIL will be a month-long celebration of hockey, and we invite the hockey fans to come watch #hockeykajashn. It was our aim to increase the fanbase for our sport across regions and we look forward to packed stadiums throughout the season.”
