Key Dates for the 2026/27 Football Season
From England's Premier League and Championship to La Liga, Serie A, and the Champions League, here are the major dates you need to know for the upcoming football season.
Premier League
- Start: August 21, 2026
- End: May 30, 2027
The Premier League kicks off a week later than usual due to the World Cup. The opening match features champions Arsenal against newly promoted Coventry City on a Friday night. The traditional Community Shield will be played on August 16 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff between Arsenal and Manchester City.
Scottish Premiership
- Start: July 31, 2026
- End: May 16, 2027
The Scottish top division begins earlier than the English leagues with the first fixtures on July 31. The league divides into a top six and bottom six after April 10-11. Celtic enter as reigning champions and will compete in the Champions League qualifiers.
EFL Championship
- Start: August 14, 2026
- End: May 31, 2027
The Championship starts early in mid-August with 46 matchdays. This season, playoffs expand from four to six teams, with the final, known as the richest game in football, scheduled for May 29-31.
Champions League
- League Phase Start: September 8, 2026
- Final: June 5, 2027
The Champions League keeps its 36-team league phase format introduced recently. The group stage begins after the August 27 draw and runs until January 27. The top eight teams go straight to the Round of 16; teams ranked 9-24 play knockout playoffs. Paris Saint-Germain are favorites to defend their title in the final hosted at Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium.
FA Cup
- First Round: November 7, 2026
- Final: May 15, 2027
The 146th FA Cup edition starts with lower-tier clubs competing for places in November. Premier League and Championship sides join in the third round in early January. The final will take place at Wembley where Manchester City aim to defend their trophy.
Serie A
- Start: August 23, 2026
- End: May 30, 2027
Italy’s Serie A season begins a week later than usual and finishes at the end of May. Inter Milan look to hold onto their 21st league title. A winter break pauses action before January resumes.
Bundesliga
- Start: August 28, 2026
- End: May 22, 2027
The German league is the last among the big five to start, kicking off August 28. The season includes a winter break after Matchday 14 and resumes in early January. Bayern Munich begin as champions, with Schalke 04 returning and newcomers SV Elversberg making their debut. The Supercup between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund opens on August 22.
La Liga
- Start: August 16, 2026
- End: May 30, 2027
Spain’s top flight starts early in mid-August. The famous El Clásico matches take place twice: first at Camp Nou on October 25, then at the Bernabeu on May 9.
Ligue 1
- Start: August 22, 2026
- End: May 29, 2027
France’s Ligue 1 begins in late August with PSG hosting Rennes. This season features 18 teams playing 34 matchdays without midweek games to reduce fatigue following the World Cup.
2026/27 Football Calendar Overview
- Community Shield: August 16 (single day)
- Premier League: August 21 – May 30, 2027
- Champions League (league phase): September 8 – June 5, 2027 (final)
- Serie A: August 23 – May 30, 2027
- Bundesliga: August 28 – May 22, 2027
- La Liga: August 15-16 – May 30, 2027
- Ligue 1: August 22-23 – May 29, 2027
- Europa League (league phase): September 16 – May 2027
- Conference League (league phase): October 15 – May 2027
- FA Cup (First Round): November 7 – May 15, 2027 (final)
- Carabao Cup: August 7-9 – February 28, 2027 (final)
- EFL Championship: August 14 – May 8, 2027
- Scottish Premiership: July 31-August 1 – May 16, 2027
- WSL (Women's Super League): September 4-6 – May 21-23, 2027
