The 2026-27 Premier League season kicks off on Saturday 22 August 2026, with all 20 clubs playing their opening matchday fixtures across the weekend. Matchday 1 launches the 35th Premier League season since the competition was rebranded in 1992, marking the beginning of 38 rounds of fixtures that conclude with the final day in May 2027.
What is the Premier League Opening Weekend?
The Premier League is the top tier of English football and the most-watched domestic league in the world. Opening Weekend is the first round of league fixtures, typically staged across Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday, with one match often selected for broadcast on a weeknight.
The 2026-27 edition is played over a compressed calendar due to the staging of the FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico earlier in the summer. Clubs report back from a short pre-season window and begin with what is traditionally one of the most heavily watched rounds of the year, as every team is level on zero points and three of them, the newly promoted sides, play their first Premier League match of the season.
When is the Premier League Opening Weekend?
Opening Weekend runs from Saturday 22 August 2026 to Sunday 23 August 2026, with a possible Friday night fixture on 21 August depending on broadcast selections. Typical kick-off times are 12:30, 15:00 and 17:30 BST on Saturday plus 14:00 and 16:30 on Sunday. A Monday Night Football selection closing the weekend is also common.
Where is the Premier League Opening Weekend played?
Fixtures are played at each home club’s stadium across England and Wales. Marquee grounds include Old Trafford (Manchester United), Anfield (Liverpool), Emirates Stadium (Arsenal), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Stamford Bridge (Chelsea), Etihad Stadium (Manchester City), St James’ Park (Newcastle United) and Villa Park (Aston Villa).
Key Contenders
Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea have dominated the top of the Premier League in recent seasons. Liverpool won the 2024-25 title under Arne Slot, ending Manchester City’s run of four consecutive championships. Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Aston Villa are the sides most likely to challenge for Champions League qualification, while the three promoted clubs will spend August fighting to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video share Premier League rights under the current domestic deal, with BBC Match of the Day providing free-to-air highlights on Saturday nights. In the United States, NBC and Peacock hold exclusive English-language rights. Fubo and Prime Video (Canada), Optus Sport (Australia), beIN Sports (Middle East and North Africa) and SuperSport (Sub-Saharan Africa) are among the international rights holders.
History and Records
The Premier League was founded in 1992 and is the world’s most commercially valuable football league. Manchester United hold the record for most titles in the Premier League era with 13, followed by Manchester City with eight and Chelsea with five. The record for most points in a season is 100, set by Manchester City in 2017-18. Alan Shearer is the all-time leading scorer with 260 goals.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for Premier League Opening Weekend fixtures are sold through each club’s official website. Season tickets typically cover matchday one automatically, while individual match tickets for members and the general public often sell out within minutes of release. Ticket prices range from around 30 pounds for cheaper seats to several hundred pounds for premium hospitality.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Premier League 2026-27 season start?
Matchday 1 begins on Saturday 22 August 2026.
Where is the Premier League Opening Weekend played?
Fixtures are staged at each home club’s stadium across England and Wales.
How can I watch the Premier League Opening Weekend?
Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video in the UK, NBC and Peacock in the US, Optus Sport in Australia.
Who won the last Premier League title?
Liverpool won the 2024-25 Premier League title, the club’s second Premier League era championship.