The 2025-26 UEFA Europa League Final takes place on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at Besiktas Park in Istanbul, Turkey. The showpiece occasion of European football’s second-tier club competition, the final will crown the 55th winner of the UEFA Cup/Europa League and the 17th since the competition was rebranded. With the quarter-finals still to be decided, eight clubs remain in contention for a place in Istanbul, where the winner will also secure a spot in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase.
What is the Europa League Final?
The UEFA Europa League Final is the single deciding match of the Europa League, UEFA’s second most prestigious club competition behind the Champions League. Formerly known as the UEFA Cup (1971 to 2009), the tournament was rebranded as the Europa League for the 2009-10 season, bringing with it a group stage format and greater commercial profile.
The 2025-26 edition follows the new league phase format introduced in 2024-25, where 36 teams competed in a single league table before progressing to a knockout bracket. The competition features clubs who narrowly missed out on the Champions League alongside domestic cup winners and those dropping down from the Champions League league phase. The final is played as a one-off match at a neutral venue, with extra time and penalties used if necessary to determine the winner.
Crucially, the Europa League Final carries significant sporting stakes beyond the trophy itself. The winner earns automatic qualification for the following season’s Champions League league phase, making it one of the most valuable matches in European club football.
When is the Europa League Final 2026?
The 2026 Europa League Final takes place on Wednesday 20 May 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 22:00 local time in Istanbul (20:00 BST / 21:00 CEST / 15:00 ET). The match is a single fixture with no return leg, played to a conclusion on the night.
The road to the final follows this schedule: quarter-final first legs on 8-9 April, quarter-final second legs on 16 April, semi-final first legs on 30 April, and semi-final second legs on 7 May. The final itself is preceded by a full week’s preparation for both finalists.
Where is the Europa League Final 2026?
The 2026 Europa League Final will be held at Besiktas Park (officially known as Tupras Stadium) in Istanbul, Turkey. The venue has a capacity of approximately 42,000, though the working capacity for the final will be around 37,500. Situated on the European shore of the Bosphorus in the Besiktas district, the stadium occupies one of the most scenic locations in world football.
Besiktas Park was built on the site of the old BJK Inonu Stadium and opened in 2016. It is the home ground of Besiktas JK, 16-time Turkish Super League champions. The stadium previously hosted the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, in which Liverpool defeated Chelsea 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw. The venue features 144 executive suites and a signature “1903 Lounge” that can accommodate up to 1,903 guests, a nod to the club’s founding year.
Istanbul is one of European football’s most storied host cities, having staged numerous Champions League and Europa League finals. The city’s position bridging Europe and Asia makes it a symbolic and practical hub for a continental final, well served by Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian side.
Key Contenders
As of early April 2026, eight clubs remain in the quarter-finals, with the semi-final line-up still to be determined. The quarter-final ties are: Braga vs Real Betis, Freiburg vs Celta, Porto vs Nottingham Forest, and Bologna vs Aston Villa.
Aston Villa enter the knockout rounds as one of the pre-tournament favourites, bringing Premier League quality and recent Champions League experience under Unai Emery, himself a four-time Europa League winning manager with Sevilla and Villarreal. Nottingham Forest have been one of the stories of the season, returning to the European stage with characteristic resilience. Porto, semi-finalists in previous editions, carry the weight of Portuguese pedigree in this competition.
From Serie A, Bologna and Roma (should they progress) offer tactical sophistication, while Spanish sides Real Betis and Celta Vigo bring the flair and European know-how that has made Spain the most successful nation in this competition’s history. German representatives Freiburg, competing in their first European quarter-final, are the competition’s dark horses.
The defending champions are Tottenham Hotspur, who won the 2024-25 Europa League by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the final at San Mames in Bilbao, with Brennan Johnson scoring the only goal.
How to Watch
The Europa League Final will be broadcast extensively across the globe. Here is a breakdown of the key markets:
United Kingdom: TNT Sports holds the rights to all Europa League matches in the UK. The final will also be available free of charge on Discovery+, where viewers can sign up and register at no cost to stream the match live. This follows the same model used for the 2025 final.
United States: Paramount+ is the exclusive home of the Europa League in the US, streaming every match including the final. Additional English-language coverage is available on CBS Sports Network. Spanish-language coverage is provided by TUDN and Univision, with streaming available via ViX.
Europe: RTL (Germany), Canal+ and M6 (France), TV8 (Turkey, free-to-air), and Movistar+ (Spain) are among the major broadcasters across the continent. Most European territories have both pay-TV and streaming options available.
Rest of World: Sony Sports Network covers the Indian subcontinent, beIN Sports holds rights across the Middle East and North Africa, and Stan Sport broadcasts in Australia. Fans should check UEFA.com for a complete list of broadcast partners in their region.
History and Records
The Europa League, originally the UEFA Cup, has been contested since 1971-72, when Tottenham Hotspur won the inaugural edition by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on aggregate. The competition switched from a two-legged final to a single match at a neutral venue from the 1997-98 season onwards, and was rebranded as the Europa League in 2009.
Sevilla are the undisputed kings of this competition, holding a record seven titles: 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2023. Their run of three consecutive wins from 2014 to 2016 is unmatched in the tournament’s history. Behind Sevilla, four clubs share second place with three titles each: Juventus, Inter Milan, Liverpool, and Atletico Madrid.
Spanish clubs have dominated the competition, accumulating 14 titles overall. Italy and England follow with 10 titles apiece. The competition has produced some memorable finals in recent years, including Atalanta’s 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in 2024, which ended the German club’s remarkable 51-match unbeaten run, and Sevilla’s penalty shootout win over Roma in 2023 in Budapest.
Tickets and Attendance
Of the approximately 37,500 available seats at Besiktas Park, UEFA allocates 27,500 tickets directly to fans and the general public. Each finalist receives up to 11,000 tickets for their supporters, while the remaining tickets are sold worldwide through UEFA.com/tickets.
Ticket prices for the 2026 final start at 40 euros, with accessibility tickets also available at this price point, including a complimentary companion ticket upon request. General public ticket sales opened on 20 March 2026 and operated via a lottery system rather than first-come, first-served. Successful applicants will have been notified following the close of the application window.
Additional tickets will be made available to supporters of the two finalists once the semi-finals are concluded in early May. Fans are strongly advised to purchase only through official UEFA channels, as the secondary market for major European finals frequently attracts fraudulent sellers. UEFA’s official hospitality programme also offers premium packages for the final, details of which can be found at UEFA.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Europa League Final 2026 start?
The final kicks off at 22:00 local time (Istanbul) on Wednesday 20 May 2026. That is 20:00 BST in the UK and 15:00 ET in the United States.
Where is the Europa League Final 2026 being held?
Besiktas Park in Istanbul, Turkey. The stadium has a capacity of around 42,000 and is located in the Besiktas district on the European side of the Bosphorus.
How can I watch the Europa League Final?
In the UK, the final is live on TNT Sports and free on Discovery+. In the US, it is available on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network. Check UEFA.com for broadcasters in other regions.
Who won the Europa League last year?
Tottenham Hotspur won the 2024-25 Europa League, defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the final at San Mames, Bilbao, on 21 May 2025.
Who has won the most Europa League titles?
Sevilla hold the record with seven titles (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2023). They are the most successful club in the competition’s history.