Telangana Extends Bar Hours in Hyderabad and Cyberabad for FIFA World Cup Final

The Telangana government has extended the operating hours of bars, clubs, and microbreweries across the Telangana Core Urban Region, including Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Cyberabad, and Malakajgiri, to accommodate football fans watching the final matches of the FIFA World Cup.

According to an official order, the Prohibition and Excise Department has permitted these establishments to remain open until 4:30 AM on the intervening night of July 18 and 19. This extension is intended for the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off scheduled for July 18.

For the final match on July 19, the government has extended the operating hours until 3:00 AM on the intervening night of July 19 and 20.

These relaxed timings will apply to several categories of liquor outlets. Eligible venues include 2B (bars), C1-Club (in-house) venues, and TD1 and TD2 (in-house) outlets operated by the Tourism Development Corporation. Microbreweries located within the core urban region are also permitted to operate under these extended hours.

Prohibition and Excise Department Commissioner C Hari Kiran issued instructions to regional authorities to facilitate the change. The directive was sent to the Deputy Commissioners of Greater Hyderabad, Malakajgiri, and Cyberabad. Additionally, District Prohibition and Excise Officers in Hyderabad, Secunderabad, LB Nagar, Malkajgiri, Qutubullapur, and Serilingampally have been ordered to take the necessary actions to implement the decision.

Despite the government’s announcement, local business owners have raised concerns about how the rules will be enforced on the ground. The Telangana Bar and Restaurant Owners Association expressed apprehensions, stating that simply issuing the excise order is not enough to ensure a smooth weekend.

The association has requested that the government directly and clearly communicate the order to local police stations. Representatives recalled a previous instance where a similar late-night extension order was issued by the Excise Department but was not properly coordinated with the police. This lack of communication led to local police shutting down venues early, causing significant confusion and disruption for bar owners.