The Premier League 2026/27 fixtures have been unveiled, but supporters of Championship, League One, and League Two sides will need to wait a bit longer for their schedules.
When Are EFL Fixtures Released?
The English Football League (EFL) has confirmed that its official fixture release day will be Thursday, June 25, following the Premier League's announcement. This covers all three divisions: Championship, League One, and League Two.
Release time: All fixtures will be published simultaneously at 12pm. Fans can view the complete 46-matchday schedule on club websites and official EFL channels.
Cup Draws on the Same Day
Alongside league schedules, the draws for the Carabao Cup first round and the Vertu Trophy group stages will also take place on June 25.
Season Kick-Off
The 2026/27 season begins with the Carabao Cup first round over the weekend of August 7–10. A preliminary round for select lower-division teams occurs earlier, on August 1–3.
Opening weekend: The first round of league fixtures across the Championship, League One, and League Two will be played over August 14–17. The Premier League starts the following weekend.
TV Selection and Broadcast
Under the EFL's broadcast commitment, the entire first half of the TV schedule will be confirmed early. The opening weekend will be live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports+.
More than 1,000 matches across the EFL, Carabao Cup, and Vertu Trophy will be broadcast live in the UK via Sky Sports and Sky Sports+. In the United States, CBS Sports will carry at least 250 live matches.
Massive Championship Rule Change
The 2026/27 season introduces an expanded play-off format with six teams instead of four. The 3rd and 4th place finishers receive a bye to the semi-finals, while 5th hosts 8th and 6th hosts 7th in new one-legged quarter-final eliminators.
