LONDON – The Premier League is set to kick off its 2026-27 season on August 21, with defending champions Arsenal starting their campaign at home against newly promoted Coventry City. This match promises to be an exciting opener as Arsenal aims to build on their success from last season, where they clinched their first league title in 22 years.
In a season marked by significant changes, Manchester City will host Bournemouth in their opening match. This will be an especially notable game as it marks the first season in a decade without Pep Guardiola at the helm. Meanwhile, Manchester United will travel to Hull City, another newly promoted team, and Liverpool will face Newcastle in an away fixture.
The fixtures for the new season were officially released by the league on Friday, stirring excitement among fans and players alike.
Chelsea, under new coach Xabi Alonso, will conclude the opening round of fixtures with a west London derby against Fulham on August 24. This match will be particularly interesting as Alonso looks to make his mark with the club.
Following their opening match, Arsenal will face Aston Villa in an away game before welcoming Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s squad is determined to defend their title successfully.
Liverpool’s new manager, Andoni Iraola, will experience his first Merseyside derby against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 28, adding further intrigue to the season’s rivalry matches.
For Manchester United, the second game of the season will be at Old Trafford against another promoted team, Ipswich. Coach Michael Carrick, who has recently signed a two-year contract, will be eager to make a strong start.
The first Manchester derby of the season is scheduled for September 12 at Old Trafford, while United’s visit to Anfield is set for November 21, promising to be a thrilling encounter.
Notably, the season starts a week later than the previous year to facilitate player recovery following the World Cup. The final round of matches will take place on May 30, just six days before the Champions League final in Madrid.
In a special Christmas matchup, Frank Lampard will welcome his former club Chelsea to Coventry Building Society Arena on December 26, adding an extra layer of excitement to the festive fixtures.
Ipswich will kick off their campaign at home against Sunderland, seeking a new coach after Kieran McKenna’s recent departure. Meanwhile, Manchester City is also in search of a manager, reportedly considering Enzo Maresca, who was Guardiola’s assistant during the treble-winning season of 2022-23.
To get the season underway, the Community Shield will be held on August 16 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, featuring Arsenal as the league champions against FA Cup winners Manchester City.
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