The 2026/27 Premier League season kicks off on Friday, August 21st, 2026. This coming campaign will begin a week later than usual due to the World Cup. Defending Premier League champions Arsenal will host newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates to open the 2026/27 season.
Many soccer predictions will have the Gunners down as favourites to lift the trophy once again. The early kick-off sets an immediate high standard, and Arsenal will be eager to stamp their authority against a Coventry side making their long-awaited return to the top flight. With 380 matches in the season, not including cups or European forays, this season is shaping up to be the most intense yet!
When does the Premier League season end?
The final day of the Premier League season will be Sunday, May 30th 2027. As is tradition, all ten fixtures on the concluding matchday will kick off simultaneously at 4:00 PM UK time. This creates a dramatic afternoon of football where titles, European qualification spots, and relegation battles can be decided in real time. Sky Sports will broadcast every game live, ensuring fans can follow the unfolding drama across multiple channels and streaming platforms.
How many games are in the Premier League?
There are 380 games in total in a Premier League season, with each team playing 38 matches. That includes one home and one away fixture against the other 19 sides. These 380 encounters produce the points, goals, and storylines that define the world’s most-watched and competitive football league.
Premier League 2026/27 Key Fixtures
Every Premier League season features several blockbuster fixtures that supporters circle on their calendars as soon as the schedule is released. From fierce local derbies to title-defining clashes, these are some of the standout matches to look forward to during the 2026/27 campaign. Fixtures are subject to change for television selections and cup commitments.
North London Derby
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal – December 5, 2026
- Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur – May 1, 2027
One of English football’s fiercest rivalries returns with Spurs hosting the first meeting in December, before Arsenal welcome their neighbours to the Emirates in early May in a fixture that could have huge implications at the top of the table and in the Premier League betting. Last season, this fixture was one-sided, with the Gunners lifting the title and Spurs narrowly avoiding relegation. Will it be another straightforward fixture for the reigning champions?
Manchester Derby
- Manchester United vs Manchester City – September 12, 2026
- Manchester City vs Manchester United – March 20, 2027
The first Manchester derby arrives surprisingly early in the season, and the return fixture falls just after the March international break. This could be a pivotal match in the title race or battle for European places. Erling Haaland has 8 goals in 7 derby appearances, and as one of the best strikers in the world, he will be itching to reach double figures in 26/27.
Tyne-Wear Derby
- Newcastle United vs Sunderland – December 5, 2026
- Sunderland vs Newcastle United – May 1, 2027
With Sunderland back in the Premier League, the Tyne-Wear derby returned last year. These two meetings are guaranteed to be among the most fiercely contested fixtures of the season following their fiery clashes last year. Sunderland landed the league double last campaign to everyone’s surprise. Will they remain the team to beat in 2026-27?
Merseyside Derby
- Everton vs Liverpool – November 28, 2026
- Liverpool vs Everton – January 30, 2027
The Merseyside derby remains one of the Premier League’s most historic rivalries. Everton host the first encounter at Goodison Park before Liverpool welcome their city rivals to Anfield just two months later. The Toffees will be hoping to take advantage of instability in their noisy neighbours’ ranks this season.
Liverpool vs Manchester United
- Liverpool vs Manchester United – November 21, 2026
- Manchester United vs Liverpool – January 23, 2027
Widely regarded as English football’s biggest rivalry, Liverpool and Manchester United meet twice within a little over two months. Both fixtures are expected to attract huge global audiences regardless of the teams’ league positions. Bruno Fernandes, one of the best midfielders in the world, helped the Red Devils to victory in both clashes last season.
Liverpool vs Manchester City
- Liverpool vs Manchester City – October 10, 2026
- Manchester City vs Liverpool – May 8, 2027
This fixture has become synonymous with Premier League title races over the past decade. The return match at the Etihad falls in the closing weeks of the season and could prove decisive if both clubs are competing for the championship. However, both teams have changed managers since they last met in the FA Cup last year. Will either team be fighting at the top this time around?
Arsenal vs Manchester City
- Arsenal vs Manchester City – November 28, 2026
- Manchester City vs Arsenal – January 30, 2027
The last two Premier League champions meet twice before February, with both fixtures likely to have a major bearing on the destination of the title. Given the recent rivalry between the clubs, these games will be among the most anticipated of the campaign.
Who is playing in the Premier League this season?
As always, three new teams will be playing in the forthcoming season. In 2026/27, we will see Coventry City play their first Premier League game in 25 years after manager Frank Lampard led the Sky Blues to the EFL Championship title last term.
Having been relegated in the 2024/25 season, Ipswich Town will return to the league after just a year out. Gary O’Neil will lead them into the opening weekend after Kieran McKenna resigned from his post in June 2026, despite finishing second and guiding them to automatic promotion just months prior.
Hull City will return to the league for their fourth spell after spending nine years in the Football League. The Tigers defeated Middlesbrough in the Playoff Final, a match that was shrouded in controversy before a ball had even been kicked. Southampton had originally won their semi-final and was set to face Middlesbrough in the final, but the EFL removed them from the playoffs entirely following the explosive “Spygate” scandal.
These three promoted sides will join the 17 teams that remained in the league last term, following the relegation of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and West Ham United. Soccer betting indicates that these new sides will all be amongst the relegation scrap next term.
Premier League 2026/27 Key Dates
Alongside the Premier League campaign itself, the 2026/27 football calendar is packed with major domestic and European fixtures. From the traditional curtain-raiser in August to the Champions League final in June, here are the dates supporters should keep in mind throughout the season.
- August 16, 2026 – The season officially gets underway with the Community Shield, where Arsenal take on Manchester City at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium (3:00 PM kick-off).
- August 21, 2026 – The opening round of Premier League fixtures begins, marking the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
- Week commencing August 24 – Clubs not involved in European competition enter the second round of the Carabao Cup.
- August 27, 2026 – The Champions League league phase draw takes place, confirming the fixtures for Europe’s elite competition.
- Weeks commencing September 7 and September 14 – Premier League clubs competing in Europe join the Carabao Cup at the third-round stage.
- September 8-10, 2026 – The opening matchweek of the Champions League league phase is played.
- January 9, 2027 – The FA Cup reaches its famous third round, with Premier League clubs entering the competition.
- January 27, 2027 – The Champions League league phase concludes before the knockout rounds begin.
- February 16, 2027 – The Champions League knockout stage gets underway as the race for European glory intensifies.
- March 21, 2027 – Wembley hosts the Carabao Cup Final, where the season’s first major domestic trophy will be awarded.
- May 22, 2027 – The FA Cup Final takes place at Wembley Stadium.
- May 30, 2027 – The Premier League season concludes, with all ten fixtures kicking off at the same time.
- June 5, 2027 – The European season comes to an end with the Champions League Final at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
When are the 2026/27 international breaks?
The international break has been restructured for 2026/27. The first break will take place between September 21st and October 6th. Nations can play up to four games in that period. The following window comes barely a month later, lasting from November 9th to 17th. The final scheduled break comes between March 22nd and 30th, 2027.
The AFC Asian Cup is also set to take place in the winter, starting on January 7th and ending on February 5th 2027. This could see some clubs lose players who represent Asian countries for nearly a month.
The 2026/27 Premier League season promises another thrilling campaign. From the opening weekend to the final day, every fixture will matter. Fans can now mark the key dates and biggest matches before the action begins.
