The 2026 Nepal Kabaddi League (NKL) will be the second season of the Nepal Kabaddi League. Organized by Astronix Management, the tournament is scheduled to be held from 5 June to 19 June 2026 at the National Sports Council Covered Hall in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu.
Six franchise teams representing different cities of Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dhangadhi, Biratnagar, Butwal, and Janakpur, are competing in a round-robin format followed by playoffs.
Janakpur Knights are the defending champions.
Teams On 28 March 2026, the league officially announced the franchise owners for the second season. Two teams underwent rebranding after change in ownership: Biratnagar Bandits became Biratnagar Bahubali and Himalayan Raiders became Butwal Bulls.
Team City Captain Head Coach Biratnagar Bahubali Biratnagar, Koshi Province TBD TBD Dhangadi Wild Cats Dhangadi, Sudurpashchim Province Padam Bahadur Bista TBD Butwal Bulls Butwal, Lumbini Province Kalyan Bhujel TBD Janakpur Knights Janakpur, Madhesh Province Ramu Tamatta TBD Kathmandu Mavricks Kathmandu, Bagmati Province Ghanshyam Roka Magar TBD Pokhara Lakers Pokhara, Gandaki Province Pradip Mijar TBD
Player Draft The Nepal Kabaddi League (NKL) Season 2 player draft took place on 26 April 2026 (Baishak 13), marking the official selection event where teams built their squads for the 2026 season.
A total of 512 domestic players registered for the draft, a significant increase from the 278 players in the first edition. Additionally, over 100 international players from 15 countries, including India, Iran, South Korea, and Poland, registered for the second season.
Squads This following squads were confirmed for the 2026 season.
Biratnagar BahubaliButwal BullsDhanghadi Wild CatsJanakpur KnightsKathmandu MavericksPokhara LakersCoaches Players Anku Pun Aditya Chaudhary Ashok Joshi Binod Bohora Bhupendra Bohora Parash Kunwar Rabi Tharu Suraj Bohora Sushil Chunara Ankit Kumar Rana Sachin Manipal Mohamed Roohullah Po-Yu Shih Nopphadon Pontaisong Ashok Thapa Magar Nabin Deuba Ganesh Parki Makdum Khan Prabin Khadka Rahul Aryal Sagar Bista Salman Miya Satish Kumar Kurmi Md Mijanur Rahman Anuj Saini Ashish Sahdev Malik Dong Geon Lee Pramot Saising Amit Kumar Rajbhar Bijay Mahar Jitendra Awasthi Kumar Lama Prakash Giri Rohit Yadav Sabin Bohaju Santosh Malla Sohail Islam Ujjal Oli Amit Surender Rohit Yadav Helvicsimiyu Wanjala Muhammad Jamshaid Saharat Phetchui Alex Sahani Kamlesh Loniya Karun Rasaili Manab Pithakote Magar Meghraj Giri Raheman Khan Ramu Tamatta Rohit B.K. Sanskar Kumar Md. Rasel Hasan Aman Dalal Rohit Kumar Xian-Ya Peng Chayaphon Kamunee Ghanshyam Roka Magar (c) Dipesh Gharti Magar Israr Khan Nageshor Tharu Prahalad Adhikari Raju Babu Yadav Sagar Yadav Sohan Budhamagar Sushil Ram Luhar Milan Dahiya Samuelwanjala Wafula Jonghoon Choi Wu Fu-Kai Jin Tanongsak Srihera Bhuwan Bohora Jiban Blon Kamal B.K. Pramod Kumar Shrestha Rabin Kunwar Sandesh Tamang Sukhdev Rokaya Chhetri Sulav Khatiwada Rupak Bhuju Hitesh Kadiyan Mohammad Aamir James Namaba Kamweti Jangkun Lee Rattanakon Yotsungnoen
Venue All matches will be held at the Nepal Sports Council Covered Hall in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.
Tripureshwor, Kathmandu National Sports Council Covered Hall Capacity: 1,500+
Points Table
League Stage
Play-offs Brackets
Qualifier 1
Eliminator
Qualifier 2
Final
Broadcasting Astronix Management signed an agreement with Kantipur Max TV HD as the official broadcasting partner. All matches will be telecast live.
See also Sports in Nepal Nepal Kabaddi League All Nepal Kabaddi Association 2025 Nepal Kabaddi League Nepal national kabaddi team Nepal women's national kabaddi team
References