Fixtures Release Details
The Premier League fixtures for the 2025-26 season will be released at 09:00 BST on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as confirmed by the Premier League and BBC Sport. All 380 matches will be announced simultaneously on premierleague.com, the Premier League app, and BBC Sport’s website and app. Fans can sync fixtures to their devices via the Premier League’s digital calendar and follow their team on the BBC Sport app for personalized news, goals, and results notifications. The release will reveal opening weekend matchups, festive schedules, and crucial run-in games, though TV selections may adjust dates and times, with broadcasters like Sky Sports airing at least 215 matches, including all final-day games.
Season Start and Structure
The 2025-26 season kicks off on Saturday, August 16, 2025, 83 days after the 2024-25 season ended, providing maximum player rest, per the Premier League. The opening game may shift to Friday, August 15, as seen in recent seasons. The campaign, spanning 33 weekend rounds and five midweek rounds, concludes on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with all matches starting simultaneously at 16:00 BST. No fixtures are scheduled for Christmas Eve, and a 60-hour gap between festive rounds ensures player recovery, addressing past scheduling concerns like the 2023 Wolves-Chelsea Christmas Eve match.
Teams and Title Race
Liverpool, champions in 2024-25, aim for a third title in six years under Arne Slot, facing challenges from Arsenal, who seek to end a 22-year drought after three second-place finishes, and Manchester City, eager to rebound from a trophyless season. Newly promoted Leeds United (Championship winners), Burnley (second place), and Sunderland (play-off winners) replace relegated Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton, hoping to avoid last season’s fate where all promoted sides went down. Everton will debut at their 52,888-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium, marking their first season away from Goodison Park.
European and World Cup Context
Nine clubs—Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest—compete in Europe, complicating squad management. The season is sandwiched between the Club World Cup (June 15-July 13, 2025, with Chelsea and Manchester City participating) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup (starting June 11, 2026), leaving City and Chelsea with potentially just 34 days’ rest if they reach the Club World Cup final. Manchester United, missing European qualification after a 15th-place finish, may benefit from extra training time under Ruben Amorim.
What’s Next?
The fixture release on June 18 will set the stage for pre-season planning, with clubs like Arsenal, Everton, Manchester United, and West Ham already scheduling U.S. friendlies from July 26 to August 3. Key storylines include Liverpool’s title defense, the promoted trio’s survival bid, and derbies like Tyne-Wear (Sunderland vs. Newcastle). Fans on X are buzzing, with @LFCTransferRoom predicting Liverpool’s opener and @afcstuff urging Arsenal fans to mark calendars. The season’s first competitive match, the Community Shield between Liverpool and Crystal Palace, is set for August 10, 2025, at Wembley.
