Key football dates for your calendar

The 2025/26 Premier League season has concluded, but it promises to be a packed summer of football activity before the start of the 2026/27 campaign.

While the FIFA World Cup takes centre stage for five weeks from the middle of June, Premier League clubs will already be busy casting their eye over potential new recruits and preparing for the new season.

Here are all the dates you need to know over a busy summer.

30 May – UEFA Champions League final

Having claimed their first Premier League title for 22 years, Arsenal bid to complete what would be an historic double as they take on reigning holders Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest, Hungary.

Arsenal have never been crowned European champions, losing their only Champions League final against Barcelona in 2006.

Early June – AGM

The Premier League’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held where the change from the 2025/26 to the 2026/27 season is formalised. Following their respective promotions from the EFL Championship, Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City can now officially state that they are part of the Premier League, as they replace Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and West Ham United.

11 June – FIFA World Cup begins

Taking place in the United States, Mexico and Canada, the FIFA World Cup will see the finest players bid to win international football’s most prestigious crown.

Hosts Mexico will have the honour of getting the tournament under way at Mexico City stadium, as they take on South Africa on Thursday 11 June. 

Every Premier League club will be represented in an expanded tournament that features 48 nations and concludes with the final in New York on Sunday 19 July.

15 June – Premier League transfer window opens

While most of the world’s top players will be in World Cup action, Premier League clubs will have already been busy working out potential incomings and outgoings.

They will officially be allowed to start registering new signings when the transfer window opens on Monday 15 June.

19 June – Premier League fixtures released

Take a break from international fare with the release of the full 2026/27 Premier League fixture list. Dates for all 380 matches will be published at PremierLeague.com and on the Premier League app at 10:00 BST on Friday 19 June.

While the dates will be subject to change for reasons including live television coverage, the schedule will allow clubs, players and supporters to begin planning for the campaign ahead, and identifying when key matches will be played.

The fixture list will feature Coventry for the first time since 2000/01, after Frank Lampard’s side won the Championship title. Their fans as well as those of fellow promoted clubs Ipswich and Hull will be eagerly anticipating the schedules. 

When the fixtures are released, you will be able to download them to your digital device with the Premier League’s digital calendar.

Early July – Players return to training

While many clubs’ players will either still be on World Cup duty or will be taking a well-earned rest from the tournament, others will be returning to their training grounds to begin preparation for the new season. 

Late July – Premier League clubs begin pre-season fixtures

With the FIFA World Cup not concluding until 19 July, most Premier League clubs do not begin their pre-season campaigns until after then.

The only currently scheduled pre-season fixture involving a top-flight club before that date sees Manchester United play Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland, on Saturday 18 July.

Most clubs will return to match action over the following fortnight, with Liverpool touring the United States, and Chelsea playing Tottenham Hotspur in Australia.

12 August – UEFA Super Cup

The match between the reigning UEFA Champions League winners and UEFA Europa League winners could be an all-English affair.

Aston Villa are already assured of their place in the fixture, to be played in Salzburg, Austria. Unai Emery’s side could face Arsenal, depending on the result of their Champions League final showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.

16 August – FA Community Shield

The first competitive match of the domestic season will see Premier League champions Arsenal take on FA Cup winners Manchester City in the FA Community Shield.

Due to music concerts taking place at Wembley Stadium, the match will be played at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, which last hosted the event in 2006.

20 August – UEFA Conference League playoff round

Courtesy of their eighth-place finish in the Premier League table, Brighton & Hove Albion have secured a place in the UEFA Conference League playoff round, consisting of a two-legged tie on 20 August and 27 August.

Fabian Hurzeler’s team will find out their opponents when the draw takes place on 3 August.

22 August – Premier League season begins

Due to the World Cup taking place this summer, the 2026/27 Premier League season will start one week later than the previous campaign.

The 22 August start date ensures there are 89 days from the end of the last Premier League season and 33 days from the World Cup final.

27 August – UEFA Champions League league phase draw

The five Premier League clubs who have qualified for the Champions League – Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Aston Villa and Liverpool – will discover who they will face in the 36-team league phase, which is due to begin on 8 September.

28 August – UEFA Europa League league phase draw

The three Premier League clubs who have qualified for the Europa League – AFC Bournemouth, Sunderland and UEFA Conference League winners Crystal Palace – will find out which sides they will meet in the 36-team league phase starting on 16 September.

1 September – Premier League transfer window closes

Most Premier League clubs will have played two league fixtures when the summer transfer window shuts at 23:00 BST on Tuesday 1 September.