The 2026/27 Premier League season starts on Friday 21 August 2026, when defending champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium with an 8pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports.
That is a week later than the previous campaign, a deliberate delay to give players recovery time after the 2026 World Cup. The season ends on Sunday 30 May 2027.
Key dates for the 2026/27 Premier League season
| Event | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Community Shield | Sunday 16 August 2026 | Arsenal v Manchester City, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 3pm |
| Opening fixture | Friday 21 August 2026 | Arsenal v Coventry City, Emirates Stadium, 8pm |
| Summer transfer deadline | Tuesday 1 September 2026 | Closes 11pm UK time |
| Winter window opens | Friday 1 January 2027 | Closes Monday 1 February 2027, 11pm |
| Final day | Sunday 30 May 2027 | All 10 fixtures kick off simultaneously |
| Champions League final | Saturday 5 June 2027 | One week after the PL final day |
Why does the 2026/27 season start later than usual?
The 2026/27 Premier League season starts a week later than the 2025/26 campaign because of the 2026 World Cup, which was staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico and finished on 20 July 2026. The delay is designed to give players who featured at the tournament additional recovery time before the domestic season begins. The final matchweek has been pushed back by a week for the same reason.
What is the opening weekend fixture list?
The 2026/27 Premier League season begins with a full round of 10 fixtures spread across four days, from Friday 21 August to Monday 24 August 2026.
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off (UK) | Live TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 21 Aug | Arsenal v Coventry City | 8.00pm | Sky Sports |
| Sat 22 Aug | Hull City v Manchester United | 12.30pm | TNT Sports |
| Sat 22 Aug | Everton v Crystal Palace | 3.00pm | — |
| Sat 22 Aug | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | 3.00pm | — |
| Sat 22 Aug | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | 3.00pm | — |
| Sat 22 Aug | Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur | 5.30pm | Sky Sports |
| Sun 23 Aug | Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa | 2.00pm | Sky Sports |
| Sun 23 Aug | Manchester City v Bournemouth | 2.00pm | Sky Sports |
| Sun 23 Aug | Newcastle United v Liverpool | 4.30pm | Sky Sports |
| Mon 24 Aug | Fulham v Chelsea | 8.00pm | Sky Sports |
Six of the ten opening-round fixtures are live on Sky Sports. Newcastle United v Liverpool on Sunday 23 August is Andoni Iraola’s first competitive match in charge of Liverpool.
When is the 2026 Community Shield?
The 2026 Community Shield is played on Sunday 16 August 2026 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with a 3pm BST kick-off. Premier League champions Arsenal face Manchester City, who qualified as the 2025/26 FA Cup winners. The match is the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season and takes place five days before the Premier League begins.
When does the 2026/27 Premier League season end?
The 2026/27 Premier League season ends on Sunday 30 May 2027. All 10 final-day fixtures kick off at the same time and are shown live on Sky Sports. That date falls one week before the 2027 Champions League final on Saturday 5 June 2027. The season comprises 380 matches across 38 matchweeks — 33 weekend rounds and five midweek rounds.
Which teams were promoted to the Premier League for 2026/27?
Three teams were promoted from the Championship for the 2026/27 Premier League season: Coventry City, who won the Championship title under Frank Lampard; Ipswich Town; and Hull City, who completed the line-up by beating Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final. They replace West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers, all relegated at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Arsenal enter the campaign as defending champions after winning the 2025/26 Premier League — their first league title in 22 years.
How many Premier League games are live on Sky Sports in 2026/27?
Sky Sports will show a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches during the 2026/27 season. TNT Sports also holds a package of fixtures, including Hull City v Manchester United on the opening Saturday.
When do the 2026/27 transfer windows close?
The summer transfer window opened on Monday 15 June 2026 and closes on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 11pm UK time — 11 days after the season starts. The winter window opens on Friday 1 January 2027 and closes on Monday 1 February 2027 at 11pm UK time.
Who are favourites to win the 2026/27 Premier League?
Arsenal are favourites to retain the title at 6/4, ahead of Manchester City at 5/2, Liverpool at 5/1 and Manchester United at 7/1. Prices move throughout pre-season with transfer business and injury news, so it pays to compare across bookmakers — our football odds hub tracks the market.
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Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026/27 Premier League season start? The 2026/27 Premier League season starts on Friday 21 August 2026 with Arsenal v Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium, kicking off at 8pm.
What is the first game of the 2026/27 Premier League season? Arsenal v Coventry City on Friday 21 August 2026, live on Sky Sports at 8pm.
Why does the 2026/27 Premier League season start later than usual? It begins a week later than the 2025/26 season to give players recovery time following the 2026 World Cup, which ended on 20 July 2026.
When does the 2026/27 Premier League season finish? On Sunday 30 May 2027, with all 10 final-day fixtures kicking off simultaneously.
When is the 2026 Community Shield and who is playing? Sunday 16 August 2026 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, 3pm, between Arsenal and Manchester City.
Which teams are newly promoted for 2026/27? Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City.
How many Premier League games will Sky Sports show in 2026/27? At least 215 live matches.
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Fixtures and kick-off times are subject to change for TV selections and European commitments. Odds referenced were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org · GamCare.org.uk.
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