The Premier League returns this weekend for the 2026/27 campaign, with all clubs in action across four days of top-flight football from Friday, August 21, through to Monday, August 24. Arsenal launch their title defence in the season's curtain-raiser against Frank Lampard's Championship winners Coventry City.
Opening weekend highlights
Newly-promoted Hull City face Manchester United, while Manchester City open their Premier League campaign without Pep Guardiola at the helm, welcoming Bournemouth. The summer has seen substantial upheaval, with numerous high-profile figures moving on and nine managers preparing to make their league debut with their respective clubs.
Matthias Jaissle and Andoni Iraola will lock horns for the first time as Newcastle United and Liverpool managers respectively, while Enzo Maresca will hope his Manchester City outfit deliver a commanding display after their 3-0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal. A West London derby is also on the cards as Xabi Alonso's Chelsea make the brief journey to Fulham.
How to watch the Premier League on TV
Sky Sports remains the Premier League's main broadcaster in the UK, showing at least 215 matches live throughout the season. Overall, Sky will transmit approximately 1,500 fixtures from the Premier League, EFL, Carabao Cup and additional competitions this season via its television and digital platforms.
Football enthusiasts will require a Sky TV and sports package to access Sky's coverage, beginning at £35 monthly for the Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle. This offer for new customers includes complete coverage of the Premier League, EFL, F1, darts and golf, featuring a £384 reduction versus the standard price (£51). The package comprises roughly 100 standard channels alongside complimentary subscriptions to Netflix Standard with Ads and discovery+.
Alternatively, there's the £44 Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, which provides all the aforementioned advantages plus complimentary Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu subscriptions. Making its debut this season is Your Multiview, Sky's innovative feature launching on August 21 which enables supporters to view up to four live Sky Sports events simultaneously on one screen. Additionally, there's a brand-new Sports Hub, displaying scores, statistics, tables and further information alongside the screen during live matches.
Existing Sky customers can add Sky Sports channels from £22 a month on a new 24-month term. Elsewhere, Sky Sports channels are included with select Virgin Media packages, several of which are reduced in the brand's 'Summer of Sport' sale. The flagship Sport bundle is back to its 'lowest ever price' of £52.99 (was £56.99) and comes with nine Sky Sports channels, more than 200 standard channels and free Netflix access. There's a catch though, as both Sky and Virgin customers will be subject to a price increase around March and April each year.
Select Premier League fixtures will also be shown exclusively on TNT Sports, which usually holds the rights to one match per gameweek, starting with Hull vs Man United. TNT has also confirmed it will show two full rounds of midweek fixtures in February and March 2027. These can all be watched on TNT Sports, HBO Max or Prime Video's TNT Sports channel, with subscriptions starting at £25.99 per month when signing up for a year, or £30.99 on a monthly rolling plan.
Premier League 2026/27 opening fixtures
Friday, August 21
Arsenal vs Coventry City – 8pm KO, Sky Sports Premier League
Saturday, August 22
Hull City vs Manchester United – 12.30pm KO, TNT Sports
Everton vs Crystal Palace
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur – 5.30pm KO, Sky Sports Premier League
Sunday, August 23
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Aston Villa – 2pm KO, Sky Sports Premier League
Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth – 2pm KO, Sky Sports Main Event
Newcastle United vs Liverpool – 4.30pm KO, Sky Sports Main Event
Monday, August 24
Fulham vs Chelsea – 8pm KO, Sky Sports Premier League
