The English Football League (EFL) has confirmed when the fixture lists for the Championship, League One and League Two will be published. Fans can expect the full 46-round schedule on Thursday, June 25 at 12pm, released simultaneously across all three divisions.
Key Dates for the 2026/27 Season
The fixture release day will also feature the Carabao Cup first-round draw and the Vertu Trophy group-stage draw. The Carabao Cup first round marks the official start of the season during the August 7-10 weekend, with a preliminary stage for some lower-tier clubs scheduled for August 1-3. League fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two will commence on the weekend of August 14-17, while the Premier League campaign begins the following weekend.
Television and Viewing Information
To give supporters ample notice for travel, the EFL will confirm the entire first-half television schedule early. Live coverage of the opening weekend will be available on Sky Sports and Sky Sports+. UK audiences can watch over 1,000 live matches from the EFL, Carabao Cup and Vertu Trophy across these platforms. In the United States, CBS Sports will televise at least 250 live games.
Major Play-off Change
The 2026/27 season introduces a significant revision to the Championship play-offs, expanding from four to six teams. Clubs finishing third and fourth will earn automatic semi-final spots, while fifth versus eighth and sixth versus seventh will be contested as one-off quarter-final ties.
