Introduction
The 2026-27 football season is already underway, with the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League commencing this week. As the new campaign begins, broadcasters and fans alike can now lock in their calendars for the major dates across English and European competition.
With the Premier League and EFL set to kick off in August, the FA Cup and EFL Cup rounds spread across the winter, and the revamped European league phases starting in the autumn, there is plenty to look forward to. The season also features fewer international breaks – four instead of five – and major continental tournaments in Asia, Africa and North and Central America.
Premier League and EFL Dates
The top flight will begin on Friday, 21 August 2026, with Erling Haaland and Manchester City looking to defend their crown once again. The Premier League season concludes on Sunday, 30 May 2027.
In the Championship, the action starts a week earlier on Friday, 14 August 2026, with the regular season ending on 1 May 2027. The play-off final is scheduled for Saturday, 29 May 2027. League One and League Two both kick off on Saturday, 15 August 2026 and finish on 8 May 2027, with their play-off finals on 30 May and 31 May 2027 respectively.
FA Cup and EFL Cup Schedule
The world's oldest domestic cup competition returns with the first round on Saturday, 7 November 2026. The second round follows on 5 December, and the third round – when Premier League clubs enter – is on 9 January 2027. Subsequent rounds: fourth round (13 February), fifth round (6 March), quarter-finals (3 April), semi-finals (24 April) and the final on 22 May 2027.
The EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) begins even earlier, with the first round taking place from 7 to 10 August 2026. The second round is set for week commencing 24 August, with the third round split across the weeks of 7 and 14 September. The fourth round is in late October, quarter-finals in mid-December, two-legged semi-finals in January and February, and the final on Sunday, 21 March 2027.
European Competition Key Dates
After the summer qualifiers, the Champions League league phase draw is on 27 August 2026. Matchday one runs from 8 to 10 September, with the final matchday eight on 20 January 2027. The knockout play-offs follow in February, round of 16 in March, and the final is yet to be confirmed but typically in late May.
The Europa League follows a similar timeline, with its league phase starting in September and concluding in January. The Conference League begins its full league phase in October.
Key Takeaways
- The Premier League season runs from 21 August 2026 to 30 May 2027, with the Championship starting a week earlier.
- The FA Cup final is on 22 May 2027, while the EFL Cup final is earlier on 21 March 2027.
- European club competitions will feature league phases starting in September, with the Champions League final expected in late May 2027.
- There are only four international breaks this season, down from five, as major continental tournaments occur.
- Lower-league play-off finals span the late May bank holiday weekend: Championship (29 May), League One (30 May), League Two (31 May).
Quick Facts
Premier League kick-off: Friday, 21 August 2026
Premier League final day: Sunday, 30 May 2027
FA Cup final: Saturday, 22 May 2027
EFL Cup final: Sunday, 21 March 2027
Champions League league phase draw: Thursday, 27 August 2026
International breaks: 4 (reduced from 5)
