Premier League's Festive Schedule for 2026-27 Season

The Premier League has laid out a bumper festive programme for the 2026-27 season, confirming a full slate of Boxing Day football and a packed run of fixtures through to early January.

After last year’s muted schedule, when just a single match took place on 26 December, the league will return to a more traditional Boxing Day bonanza with seven games spread across the day.

Four fixtures will kick off at 15:00 GMT, framed by matches at 12:30, 17:30 and a late 20:00 start.

Boxing Day back to full volume

Aston Villa against Leeds launches the day at 12:30, a lunchtime meeting that sets the tone for a Saturday stacked with storylines.

The 15:00 slot brings a classic multi-screen afternoon: Everton v Sunderland, Fulham v Brighton, Ipswich v Brentford and Spurs v AFC Bournemouth all going head to head at the same time.

Hull then host Liverpool in the 17:30 evening window before Newcastle v Manchester City closes the day under the lights at 20:00, a heavyweight clash to end one of the biggest Boxing Day programmes in years.

Festive run stretches into January

The schedule does not ease up. Three more matches follow on Sunday, 27 December: Coventry v Chelsea at 14:00, Manchester United v Nottingham Forest at 16:30, and Crystal Palace v Arsenal in a 19:00 kick-off.

From there, the league moves straight into a dense run of evening fixtures. A full midweek round is set for 29-30 December, with every game played at night.

On Tuesday, 29 December, Hull v Leeds and Spurs v Brighton both start at 19:30, before Everton face Manchester City at 20:15. The following night, Wednesday, 30 December, delivers a seven-game spread: Coventry v Brentford, Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth, Fulham v Arsenal, Manchester United v Sunderland and Newcastle v Nottingham Forest all kick off at 19:30, with Aston Villa v Liverpool and Ipswich v Chelsea at 20:15.

New Year’s Day is deliberately lighter. Leeds v Everton at 20:00 stands alone on Friday, 1 January, the only fixture that night and a rare single-focus Premier League occasion.

The rest of that round is played across the weekend of 2-3 January. Saturday opens with Brighton v Manchester United at 12:30, followed by a 15:00 block of Arsenal v Ipswich, Brentford v Crystal Palace, Liverpool v Coventry, Nottingham Forest v Fulham and Sunderland v Hull. AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa fills the 17:30 slot.

On Sunday, 3 January, Chelsea v Newcastle kicks off at 14:00 before Manchester City v Spurs at 16:30 completes the weekend.

One more round is then spread across 5-7 January. Tuesday, 5 January sees Arsenal v Brentford, Brighton v AFC Bournemouth, Everton v Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest v Hull all at 19:30, with Sunderland v Liverpool at 20:15. On Wednesday, 6 January, Crystal Palace v Chelsea, Fulham v Spurs and Ipswich v Coventry all start at 19:30, ahead of Leeds v Manchester City at 20:15. The festive period closes on Thursday, 7 January, with Manchester United v Newcastle at 20:00.

Early clarity after talks with fans and broadcasters

The Premier League has brought forward its Christmas and New Year scheduling announcement after discussions with broadcast partners, the Football Supporters’ Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards, aiming to give fans and clubs more time to plan travel and logistics.

Television picks have been confirmed up to Monday, 2 November, with further broadcast selections for the remaining fixtures in November and December to be released in the weeks beginning 21 September and 19 October.

Crucially, the league has pledged that every club will receive at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period. That guarantee comes in direct response to concerns about player welfare and fixture congestion, particularly after recent expansions to European and international calendars.

The matches are set. The breaks are defined. Now the question is simple: who will navigate this relentless winter run best and emerge in January still in control of their season?