Lucknow: The fourth season of the UP T20 League, organised by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), is set to kick off in spectacular fashion on August 14, 2026, with a grand opening ceremony at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
The opening concert will feature celebrated musician and singer Shankar Mahadevan alongside popular playback singer Jasmine Sandlas. The musical evening will also include performances by Siddharth Mahadevan and Shivam Mahadevan, promising an electrifying start to the tournament.
Ahead of the league, UPCA organised a special Influencers Meet at Ekana Stadium to strengthen the tournament’s digital outreach. More than 100 social media influencers, digital content creators and representatives from online media platforms participated in the event.
UP T20 League Governing Council Chairman Dr. Sanjay Kapoor highlighted the growing importance of digital platforms in promoting sports. He said the enthusiastic participation of content creators has made this edition an “Influencers League” in many ways, reflecting the league’s commitment to engaging younger audiences through digital storytelling.
To encourage creators, UPCA has announced an exclusive Influencer Contest with attractive cash rewards. The winner will receive ₹2 lakh, while the second and third positions will earn ₹1.5 lakh and ₹1 lakh, respectively. Additionally, the best social media post each match day will be awarded ₹5,000, and a dedicated Influencers Zone will be set up inside the stadium for creators.
The opening ceremony will also feature a spectacular laser show, a high-tech drone show, and a live narration designed to offer fans an immersive entertainment experience. A vibrant food carnival will also be organised within the stadium premises.
A major highlight of Season 4 is that matches will be played across Lucknow and Kanpur, allowing cricket enthusiasts in both cities to witness the action live.
Governing Council member Sanjeev Kumar Singh said the season’s theme, “Khiladi Yahan Banta Hai” (Champions Are Made Here), has been expanded with the digital-first slogan “Cricket Content Yahan Banega” (Cricket Content Will Be Created Here), aiming to build a strong online community around the tournament while celebrating cricket and creativity together.
