Premier League Pre-Season 2026: A Global Affair
While the 2026 World Cup is still in full swing, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and their Premier League rivals are already ramping up preparations for the new season. The 2026/27 campaign kicks off on 21 August, and clubs are finalising their pre-season schedules, which span the globe from Sydney to Chicago and beyond.
Here is your comprehensive, club-by-club guide to every confirmed fixture – with all kick-off times listed in BST.
Headline Tours and Marquee Clashes
Several big names have planned ambitious overseas tours. Chelsea will travel to Australia and Asia, facing Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham in Sydney, before heading to Hong Kong and Jakarta for tests against Juventus and AC Milan.
Liverpool and Leeds United will meet at Soldier Field in Chicago, while Arsenal’s schedule includes a Dublin date with Real Betis and the Community Shield clash against Manchester City in Cardiff.
Back on home soil, newly promoted Ipswich Town and Coventry City will test themselves against La Liga and Bundesliga opposition, while Brighton welcome Roma and Bologna to the Amex.
Club-by-Club Pre-Season Fixture List
AFC Bournemouth
- 24 July: St. Pauli v Bournemouth (Saalfelden Arena, Austria, 15:00)
- 30 July: Augsburg v Bournemouth (Saalfelden Arena, Austria, 15:00)
- 4 August: Bournemouth v Genoa (behind closed doors)
- 8 August: Real Betis v Bournemouth (Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, 19:30)
Arsenal
- 1 August: Girona v Arsenal (Estadi Montilivi, Girona, 19:00)
- 5 August: Arsenal v Real Betis (Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 19:30)
- 9 August: Arsenal v Borussia Dortmund (Emirates Stadium, London, 14:00)
- 16 August: Community Shield – Arsenal v Manchester City (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 15:00)
Aston Villa
- 21 July: Walsall v Aston Villa (Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, 19:30)
- 28 July: Aston Villa v Real Sociedad (Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, 19:30)
- 1 August: Indonesia All-Stars v Aston Villa (Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, 19:00)
- 4 August: BG Pathum United v Aston Villa (True BG Stadium, Pathum Thani, 19:30)
- 7 August: Aston Villa v Bayern Munich (Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong, TBC)
- 15 August: Borussia Monchengladbach v Aston Villa (Borussia-Park, Monchengladbach, 14:30)
Brentford
- 8 August: Stade Rennais v Brentford (Roazhon Park, Rennes, 17:00)
- 15 August: Brentford v Eintracht Frankfurt (Gtech Community Stadium, London)
Brighton & Hove Albion
- 25 July: Brighton v Annecy (behind closed doors)
- 1 August: Brighton v Strasbourg (behind closed doors)
- 8 August: Brighton v Roma (Amex Stadium, Brighton, 15:00)
- 15 August: Brighton v Bologna (Amex Stadium, Brighton, 15:00)
Chelsea
- 28 July: Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea (Accor Stadium, Sydney, 10:45)
- 1 August: Chelsea v Tottenham (Accor Stadium, Sydney, 10:45)
- 5 August: Chelsea v Juventus (Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong, 12:30)
- 8 August: Chelsea v AC Milan (Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, 13:00)
- 11 August: Johor Darul Ta'zim v Chelsea (Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor, 13:00)
Coventry City
- 18 July: Northampton v Coventry (Sixfields Stadium, Northampton, 14:00)
- 8 August: Coventry v Espanyol (CBS Arena, Coventry, 17:30)
Crystal Palace
- 28 July: Crystal Palace v Lens (Lake Como, Italy, 18:00)
- 28 July: Crystal Palace v FC Famalicao (Lake Como, Italy, 19:30)
Everton
- 18 July: Dundee v Everton (Dens Park, Dundee, 14:00)
- 25 July: Bolton v Everton (Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton, 15:00)
- 28 July: Stoke City v Everton (bet365 Stadium, Stoke, 19:45)
- 1 August: Hamburg v Everton (MHP Arena, Stuttgart, 16:00)
- 8 August: Stuttgart v Everton (MHP Arena, Stuttgart, 16:00)
- 12 August: Everton v Newcastle (Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 17:15)
Fulham
No fixtures announced.
Hull City
No fixtures announced.
Ipswich Town
- 29 July: Ipswich v Osasuna (JobServe Community Stadium, Colchester, 19:45)
- 1 August: Oxford Utd v Ipswich (Kassam Stadium, Oxford, 12:00)
- 1 August: Wycombe v Ipswich (Adams Park, Wycombe, 16:00)
- 4 August: Ipswich v Le Havre (Portman Road, Ipswich, 19:45)
- 8 August: Ipswich v Rayo Vallecano (Portman Road, Ipswich, 15:00)
- 15 August: Union Berlin v Ipswich (Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, 14:30)
Leeds United
- 25 July: Leeds v Wrexham (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, 00:30)
- 30 July: Leeds v Sunderland (Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey, 00:30)
- 2 August: Leeds United v Liverpool (Soldier Field, Chicago, 21:00)
- 8 August: Leeds United v RB Leipzig (Elland Road, Leeds, 14:00)
- 12 August: Leeds United v Manchester United (Croke Park, Dublin, 19:30)
Liverpool
- 25 July: Liverpool v Sunderland (Geodis Park, Nashville, 23:00)
- 29 July: Liverpool v Wrexham (Yankee Stadium, New York, 00:30)
- 2 August: Liverpool v Leeds (Soldier Field, Chicago, 21:00)
- 9 August: Liverpool v Monaco (Anfield, Liverpool, 14:30)
- 16 August: Liverpool v Como (Anfield, Liverpool, 15:00)
Additional club schedules will be announced in due course. All times BST unless stated. Fixtures as reported by BBC Sport.
Key Takeaways
- A global pre-season: Clubs are travelling to North America, Asia, Australia, and across Europe, reflecting the Premier League's worldwide appeal.
- Community Shield early test: Arsenal face Manchester City in the traditional curtain-raiser on 16 August.
- Behind-closed-doors matches: Several clubs, including Bournemouth and Brighton, will play friendlies without fans to control tactical experimentation.
- New boys in action: Promoted sides Ipswich and Coventry have scheduled challenging encounters against La Liga and Bundesliga clubs.
- Big-name reunions: Leeds United vs Manchester United in Dublin and Liverpool vs Leeds in Chicago highlight the crossover of fierce rivalries and overseas ambition.
Quick Facts
Pre-season start date: 18 July (Coventry City, Everton)
Earliest fixture: Northampton Town vs Coventry City (14:00 BST, 18 July)
Community Shield: Arsenal vs Manchester City (16 August, Cardiff)
Clubs yet to announce: Fulham, Hull City
Most exotic locations: Sydney, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Chicago, New York, Dublin