The English Football League (EFL) has unveiled the complete fixture schedule for the 2026/27 season across the Championship, League One, and League Two. Clubs now know their full match calendars, with standout opening-weekend clashes including the Welsh derby between Wrexham and Cardiff City, and Wolverhampton Wanderers hosting Blackburn Rovers at Molineux.
Championship Opening Weekend Highlights
The Championship season kicks off on 14 August 2026 with Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Blackburn Rovers at 20:00. The following day, 15 August, features a packed slate of matches including Bolton Wanderers against Preston North End, Bristol City vs Millwall, and Sheffield United hosting Birmingham City. The opening round concludes on 17 August with Cardiff City facing Wrexham in a Monday night fixture that has already generated significant fan interest.
Relegated Premier League sides Burnley and West Ham United meet on 16 August, while Watford host Southampton on the same day. League One play-off winners Bolton Wanderers begin their campaign at home against Preston North End.
Key Fixtures and Rivalries
Several high-profile matches dot the calendar. Millwall will host West Ham United on 19 September 2026 at The Den, with the return fixture at the London Stadium on 20 February 2027. The "Spygate" rivals Southampton and Middlesbrough face off on 28 November 2026 at St Mary's and again on 13 March 2027 at the Riverside Stadium.
Leicester City, who suffered back-to-back relegations and now find themselves in League One, begin their third-tier campaign away at Notts County. The Foxes will aim for an immediate return under manager Russell Martin.
Full Championship Fixture List
The complete fixture list for the 2026/27 Championship season is as follows (all kick-off times subject to confirmation):
August 2026
14/08: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers (20:00)
15/08: Bolton Wanderers v Preston North End (12:30), Bristol City v Millwall, Charlton Athletic v Derby County, Middlesbrough v Lincoln City, Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth v Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United v Birmingham City (17:30), Stoke City v Swansea City
16/08: Burnley v West Ham United (16:00), Watford v Southampton (13:30)
17/08: Cardiff City v Wrexham (20:00)
22/08: Birmingham City v Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough, Derby County v Cardiff City, Lincoln City v Portsmouth, Millwall v Norwich City, Preston North End v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers v Bolton Wanderers, Southampton v Stoke City, Swansea City v Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion v Burnley, West Ham United v Charlton Athletic, Wrexham v Watford
29/08: Blackburn Rovers v Queens Park Rangers, Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City, Bristol City v Portsmouth, Cardiff City v Sheffield United, Charlton Athletic v Preston North End, Derby County v Swansea City, Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City v Burnley, Southampton v Millwall, Watford v West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Stoke City, Wrexham v Birmingham City
September 2026
01/09: Birmingham City v Southampton, Lincoln City v Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth v Derby County, Preston North End v Bristol City, Sheffield United v Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City v Norwich City, Swansea City v Watford, West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
02/09: Burnley v Middlesbrough, Millwall v Wrexham, Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City, West Bromwich Albion v Charlton Athletic
05/09: Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley v Bristol City, Lincoln City v Southampton, Millwall v Bolton Wanderers, Portsmouth v Cardiff City, Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough, Sheffield United v Norwich City, Stoke City v Charlton Athletic, Swansea City v Wrexham, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Derby County
08/09: Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United, Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United, Bristol City v Lincoln City, Cardiff City v Stoke City, Middlesbrough v Millwall, Southampton v Swansea City, Watford v Preston North End, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Portsmouth
09/09: Charlton Athletic v Queens Park Rangers, Derby County v West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City v Birmingham City, Wrexham v Burnley
12/09: Blackburn Rovers v Millwall, Bolton Wanderers v Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic v Portsmouth, Derby County v Birmingham City, Middlesbrough v Norwich City, Preston North End v Lincoln City, Sheffield United v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton v Bristol City, Swansea City v Burnley, Watford v Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion v Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United v Wrexham
19/09: Birmingham City v Middlesbrough, Bristol City v Watford, Burnley v Derby County, Cardiff City v Charlton Athletic, Lincoln City v Swansea City, Millwall v West Ham United, Norwich City v Bolton Wanderers, Portsmouth v Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers v Preston North End, Stoke City v Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion, Wrexham v Southampton
October 2026
10/10: Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City, Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City, Charlton Athletic v Bristol City, Derby County v Wrexham, Middlesbrough v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End v Millwall, Sheffield United v Lincoln City, Southampton v Portsmouth, Swansea City v Norwich City, Watford v Burnley, West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City, West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers
13/10: Birmingham City v Preston North End, Bristol City v Blackburn Rovers, Burnley v Charlton Athletic, Cardiff City v Watford, Millwall v Swansea City, Stoke City v Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Bolton Wanderers, Wrexham v West Bromwich Albion
14/10: Lincoln City v West Ham United, Norwich City v Southampton, Portsmouth v Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers v Derby County
17/10: Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City v Sheffield United, Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Derby County v Stoke City, Middlesbrough v Cardiff City, Millwall v Lincoln City, Norwich City v Portsmouth, Southampton v Bolton Wanderers, Swansea City v West Ham United, Watford v Charlton Athletic, West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers, Wrexham v Preston North End
24/10: Blackburn Rovers v Wrexham, Bolton Wanderers v Middlesbrough, Cardiff City v Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic v Norwich City, Lincoln City v Burnley, Portsmouth v Millwall, Preston North End v West Bromwich Albion, Queens Park Rangers v Swansea City, Sheffield United v Derby County, Stoke City v Bristol City, West Ham United v Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford
31/10: Bolton Wanderers v Bristol City, Burnley v Portsmouth, Lincoln City v Birmingham City, Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic, Millwall v Derby County, Norwich City v Watford, Sheffield United v Wrexham, Southampton v Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City v Preston North End, Swansea City v Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Cardiff City
November 2026
03/11: Birmingham City v Millwall, Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City, Derby County v Norwich City, Portsmouth v Swansea City, Preston North End v Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers v Burnley, Watford v Lincoln City, West Bromwich Albion v Southampton
04/11: Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cardiff City v West Ham United, Charlton Athletic v Bolton Wanderers, Wrexham v Middlesbrough
07/11: Birmingham City v Swansea City, Blackburn Rovers v West Ham United, Bristol City v Norwich City, Cardiff City v Burnley, Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United, Derby County v Bolton Wanderers, Portsmouth v Stoke City, Preston North End v Southampton, Queens Park Rangers v Lincoln City, Watford v Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion v Millwall, Wrexham v Wolverhampton Wanderers
21/11: Bolton Wanderers v Portsmouth, Burnley v Blackburn Rovers, Lincoln City v Wrexham, Middlesbrough v Bristol City, Millwall v Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City v Cardiff City, Sheffield United v Watford, Southampton v Derby County, Stoke City v Birmingham City, Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United v Preston North End, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Charlton Athletic
24/11: Bristol City v Wrexham, Cardiff City v Preston North End, Charlton Athletic v Lincoln City, Middlesbrough v Swansea City, Norwich City v Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth v West Ham United, Sheffield United v Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Derby County
25/11: Bolton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion, Burnley v Birmingham City, Stoke City v Millwall, Watford v Blackburn Rovers
28/11: Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers v Charlton Athletic, Derby County v Watford, Lincoln City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Millwall v Burnley, Preston North End v Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United, Southampton v Middlesbrough, Swansea City v Cardiff City, West Bromwich Albion v Bristol City, West Ham United v Stoke City, Wrexham v Portsmouth
December 2026
05/12: Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City v Swansea City, Burnley v Preston North End, Cardiff City v Lincoln City, Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City, Middlesbrough v Derby County, Norwich City v Wrexham, Portsmouth v West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United v West Ham United, Stoke City v Queens Park Rangers, Watford v Millwall, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southampton
08/12: Birmingham City v Watford, Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City, Millwall v Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swansea City v Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion v Cardiff City, West Ham United v Middlesbrough, Wrexham v Charlton Athletic
09/12: Derby County v Bristol City, Lincoln City v Stoke City, Preston North End v Portsmouth, Southampton v Burnley
12/12: Blackburn Rovers v Derby County, Bolton Wanderers v Wrexham, Cardiff City v Southampton, Charlton Athletic v Swansea City, Lincoln City v Norwich City, Portsmouth v Birmingham City, Preston North End v Middlesbrough, Queens Park Rangers v Watford, Sheffield United v Burnley, Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United v Bristol City, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Millwall
19/12: Birmingham City v West Ham United, Bristol City v Cardiff City, Burnley v Stoke City, Derby County v Lincoln City, Middlesbrough v Portsmouth, Millwall v Charlton Athletic, Norwich City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton v Blackburn Rovers, Swansea City v Preston North End, Watford v Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United, Wrexham v Queens Park Rangers
26/12: Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers v Burnley, Cardiff City v Millwall, Charlton Athletic v Southampton, Lincoln City v West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth v Watford, Preston North End v Derby County, Queens Park Rangers v Bristol City, Sheffield United v Middlesbrough, Stoke City v Wrexham, West Ham United v Norwich City, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Swansea City
29/12: Birmingham City v Cardiff City, Bristol City v Stoke City, Burnley v Lincoln City, Derby County v Sheffield United, Middlesbrough v Bolton Wanderers, Millwall v Portsmouth, Norwich City v Charlton Athletic, Southampton v West Ham United, Swansea City v Queens Park Rangers, Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion v Preston North End, Wrexham v Blackburn Rovers
January 2027
01/01: Birmingham City v Portsmouth, Bristol City v West Ham United, Burnley v Sheffield United, Derby County v Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough v Preston North End, Millwall v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Norwich City v Lincoln City, Southampton v Cardiff City, Swansea City v Charlton Athletic, Watford v Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City, Wrexham v Bolton Wanderers
16/01: Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion, Bolton Wanderers v Southampton, Cardiff City v Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic v Watford, Lincoln City v Millwall, Portsmouth v Norwich City, Preston North End v Wrexham, Queens Park Rangers v Birmingham City, Sheffield United v Bristol City, Stoke City v Derby County, West Ham United v Swansea City, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley
23/01: Birmingham City v Lincoln City, Blackburn Rovers v Swansea City, Bristol City v Bolton Wanderers, Cardiff City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough, Derby County v Millwall, Portsmouth v Burnley, Preston North End v Stoke City, Queens Park Rangers v Southampton, Watford v Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United, Wrexham v Sheffield United
26/01: Bolton Wanderers v Charlton Athletic, Burnley v Queens Park Rangers, Lincoln City v Watford, Millwall v Birmingham City, Norwich City v Derby County, Sheffield United v Preston North End, Southampton v West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers
27/01: Middlesbrough v Wrexham, Swansea City v Portsmouth, West Ham United v Cardiff City, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Bristol City
30/01: Bolton Wanderers v Derby County, Burnley v Cardiff City, Lincoln City v Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough v Watford, Millwall v West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City v Bristol City, Sheffield United v Charlton Athletic, Southampton v Preston North End, Stoke City v Portsmouth, Swansea City v Birmingham City, West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Wrexham
February 2027
06/02: Birmingham City v Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers v Burnley, Bristol City v Middlesbrough, Cardiff City v Norwich City, Charlton Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Derby County v Southampton, Portsmouth v Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End v West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers v Millwall, Watford v Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City, Wrexham v Lincoln City
13/02: Birmingham City v Derby County, Bristol City v Southampton, Burnley v Swansea City, Cardiff City v Bolton Wanderers, Lincoln City v Preston North End, Millwall v Blackburn Rovers, Norwich City v Middlesbrough, Portsmouth v Charlton Athletic, Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City v Watford, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield United, Wrexham v West Ham United
16/02: Blackburn Rovers v Bristol City, Charlton Athletic v Burnley, Derby County v Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End v Birmingham City, Sheffield United v Portsmouth, Watford v Cardiff City, West Bromwich Albion v Wrexham, West Ham United v Lincoln City
17/02: Bolton Wanderers v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Middlesbrough v Stoke City, Southampton v Norwich City, Swansea City v Millwall
20/02: Blackburn Rovers v Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers v Norwich City, Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City, Derby County v Burnley, Middlesbrough v Birmingham City, Preston North End v Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United v Stoke City, Southampton v Wrexham, Swansea City v Lincoln City, Watford v Bristol City, West Bromwich Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United v Millwall
27/02: Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion, Bristol City v Charlton Athletic, Burnley v Watford, Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers, Lincoln City v Sheffield United, Millwall v Preston North End, Norwich City v Swansea City, Portsmouth v Southampton, Queens Park Rangers v West Ham United, Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Middlesbrough, Wrexham v Derby County
March 2027
02/03: Bolton Wanderers v Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City v Birmingham City, Burnley v West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City v Derby County, Charlton Athletic v West Ham United, Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers, Norwich City v Millwall, Watford v Wrexham
03/03: Portsmouth v Lincoln City, Sheffield United v Swansea City, Stoke City v Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Preston North End
06/03: Birmingham City v Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Derby County v Charlton Athletic, Lincoln City v Middlesbrough, Millwall v Bristol City, Preston North End v Bolton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers v Portsmouth, Southampton v Watford, Swansea City v Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City, West Ham United v Burnley, Wrexham v Cardiff City
13/03: Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City, Bristol City v West Bromwich Albion, Burnley v Millwall, Cardiff City v Swansea City, Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough v Southampton, Norwich City v Preston North End, Portsmouth v Wrexham, Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City v West Ham United, Watford v Derby County, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Lincoln City
16/03: Derby County v Middlesbrough, Lincoln City v Cardiff City, Preston North End v Burnley, Queens Park Rangers v Stoke City, Southampton v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swansea City v Bristol City, West Bromwich Albion v Portsmouth, Wrexham v Norwich City
17/03: Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers, Millwall v Watford, West Ham United v Sheffield United
20/03: Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City v Queens Park Rangers, Burnley v Bolton Wanderers, Derby County v Preston North End, Middlesbrough v Sheffield United, Millwall v Cardiff City, Norwich City v West Ham United, Southampton v Charlton Athletic, Swansea City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford v Portsmouth, West Bromwich Albion v Lincoln City, Wrexham v Stoke City
April 2027
03/04: Blackburn Rovers v Southampton, Bolton Wanderers v Watford, Cardiff City v Bristol City, Charlton Athletic v Millwall, Lincoln City v Derby County, Portsmouth v Middlesbrough, Preston North End v Swansea City, Queens Park Rangers v Wrexham, Sheffield United v West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City v Burnley, West Ham United v Birmingham City, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Norwich City
06/04: Burnley v Wrexham, Lincoln City v Bristol City, Millwall v Middlesbrough, Portsmouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers v Charlton Athletic, Stoke City v Cardiff City, Swansea City v Southampton, West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers
07/04: Birmingham City v Norwich City, Preston North End v Watford, Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers, West Bromwich Albion v Derby County
10/04: Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End, Bolton Wanderers v Millwall, Bristol City v Burnley, Cardiff City v Portsmouth, Charlton Athletic v Stoke City, Derby County v West Ham United, Middlesbrough v Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City v Sheffield United, Southampton v Lincoln City, Watford v West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City, Wrexham v Swansea City
17/04: Birmingham City v Wrexham, Burnley v Norwich City, Lincoln City v Bolton Wanderers, Millwall v Southampton, Portsmouth v Bristol City, Preston North End v Charlton Athletic, Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United v Cardiff City, Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swansea City v Derby County, West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough, West Ham United v Watford
20/04: Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United, Charlton Athletic v West Bromwich Albion, Derby County v Portsmouth, Middlesbrough v Burnley, Norwich City v Stoke City, Southampton v Birmingham City, Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United, Wrexham v Millwall
21/04: Blackburn Rovers v Lincoln City, Bristol City v Preston North End, Cardiff City v Queens Park Rangers, Watford v Swansea City
24/04: Bolton Wanderers v Swansea City, Bristol City v Derby County, Burnley v Southampton, Cardiff City v West Bromwich Albion, Charlton Athletic v Wrexham, Middlesbrough v West Ham United, Norwich City v Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth v Preston North End, Sheffield United v Millwall, Stoke City v Lincoln City, Watford v Birmingham City, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Queens Park Rangers
May 2027
01/05: Birmingham City v Burnley, Blackburn Rovers v Watford, Derby County v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Lincoln City v Charlton Athletic, Millwall v Stoke City, Preston North End v Cardiff City, Queens Park Rangers v Norwich City, Southampton v Sheffield United, Swansea City v Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United v Portsmouth, Wrexham v Bristol City
Impact and Expectations
The release of fixtures marks a key milestone for clubs and fans as they prepare for the 2026/27 campaign. The Championship features 24 teams competing over 46 matchdays, with promotion to the Premier League and relegation to League One at stake. The season will run from August 2026 to May 2027, with exact kick-off times to be confirmed closer to each matchday.
