The 2026/27 EFL Championship season starts on Friday 14 August 2026, when relegated Wolves host Blackburn Rovers at Molineux at 8:00pm, live on Sky Sports.
The opening round runs across four days from Friday 14 to Monday 17 August, with every game broadcast live. Below are the full opening-weekend fixtures, kick-off times and odds, plus the key dates for the season ahead.
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Championship 2026/27: Key Facts
| Season starts | Friday 14 August 2026 |
| First match | Wolves v Blackburn, 8:00pm, Molineux |
| Opening round | Friday 14 – Monday 17 August 2026 |
| Season ends | Saturday 1 May 2027 |
| Play-offs | Expanded to six teams (3rd–8th) — a first this season |
| Teams | 24 |
| Matchdays | 46 |
| TV | Sky Sports (every opening-weekend game live) |
| Defending champions | Coventry City |
Correct at the time of writing and subject to change. 18+. GambleAware.org.
When Does the Championship Season Start?
The 2026/27 Championship season starts on Friday 14 August 2026, with Wolves v Blackburn under the Molineux lights at 8:00pm the traditional Friday-night curtain-raiser, live on Sky Sports. Because the Championship has 24 teams playing 46 games — more than the Premier League — it kicks off a week earlier than the top flight, which begins on 22 August.
Championship Opening Weekend Fixtures and Odds
Every game of the opening round is live on Sky Sports. Here are the fixtures, kick-off times and match odds (home / draw / away):
Friday 14 August 2026
| Time | Fixture | Home | Draw | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 | Wolves v Blackburn | 4/7 | 10/3 | 9/2 |
Saturday 15 August 2026
| Time | Fixture | Home | Draw | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:30 | Bolton v Preston | 5/4 | 12/5 | 9/4 |
| 15:00 | Charlton v Derby | 13/8 | 11/5 | 7/4 |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough v Lincoln | 7/20 | 9/2 | 7/1 |
| 15:00 | Stoke v Swansea | 13/10 | 23/10 | 2/1 |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth v QPR | 13/10 | 5/2 | 43/20 |
| 15:00 | Bristol City v Millwall | 6/4 | 9/4 | 13/8 |
| 15:00 | Norwich v West Brom | 1/1 | 5/2 | 14/5 |
| 17:30 | Sheffield Utd v Birmingham | 6/4 | 11/5 | 7/4 |
Sunday 16 August 2026
| Time | Fixture | Home | Draw | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:30 | Watford v Southampton | 12/5 | 11/4 | 15/13 |
Odds correct at the time of writing and subject to change. The opening round also features West Ham v Burnley (Sunday, 4:00pm) and an all-Welsh Cardiff v Wrexham (Monday, 8:00pm). 18+. GambleAware.org.
The Standout Opening-Weekend Fixtures
Three of last season’s Premier League sides start life back in the Championship: Wolves open against Blackburn, while West Ham and Burnley — both relegated — meet at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon. Promoted trio Bolton, Lincoln and Cardiff begin their campaigns, with Cardiff hosting Wrexham in an all-Welsh derby to close the round on Monday night. Middlesbrough are the bookmakers’ shortest-priced home favourites of the weekend at 7/20 against newly promoted Lincoln.
Where to Bet on the Championship
The Championship is one of the most heavily backed leagues in British football, and the leading bookmakers price up every match, plus outright markets on promotion, the title and relegation. New customers can claim free bets to put towards the opening weekend.
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For our full analysis of the opening night, see our Wolves vs Blackburn bet builder tips, and for the season ahead, our bet builder tips and best football betting sites.
Championship 2026/27: Key Dates
- Season starts: Friday 14 August 2026
- Opening round: Friday 14 – Monday 17 August 2026
- International breaks: September, November, March (plus January for the AFC Asian Cup)
- Final day: Saturday 1 May 2027
- Play-offs: May 2027 — expanded to six teams (finishing 3rd to 8th) for the first time, with a one-legged quarter-final, two-legged semi-finals and the Wembley final
How to Watch the Championship
Every fixture on the opening weekend is live on Sky Sports, part of the EFL’s five-year broadcast deal. Across the season, more than 1,000 EFL matches are shown live, with every Championship club guaranteed at least 20 live appearances. Matches are available on the Sky Sports app and via Sky Sports+.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Championship 2026/27 season start?
The season starts on Friday 14 August 2026, with Wolves v Blackburn at Molineux, 8:00pm, live on Sky Sports.
What is the first Championship fixture of the season?
Wolves v Blackburn on Friday 14 August 2026 opens the campaign, kicking off at 8:00pm.
When does the Championship season end?
The regular season ends on Saturday 1 May 2027, followed by the play-offs in May.
How many teams are in the Championship play-offs?
For the first time in 2026/27, the play-offs are expanded to six teams — those finishing between 3rd and 8th — with a one-legged quarter-final, two-legged semi-finals and the Wembley final.
Who are the defending Championship champions?
Coventry City won the 2025/26 Championship title.
Is the Championship opening weekend on TV?
Yes — every game of the opening round is live on Sky Sports.
More football fixtures and betting: When does the Premier League season start? · Wolves vs Blackburn bet builder tips · Bet builder tips · Best football betting sites
Dates, odds and details were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. GambleAware.org · GamCare.org.uk.
Andy Clark is a British betting analyst and the founder and editor of Thatsagoal, a UK sports betting comparison site operated by Thatsagoal Media Limited. He has over 20 years of betting experience across football and horse racing, and personally tests every bookmaker account reviewed on the site.