The release of the Premier League fixtures for the 2025/26 season means that anticipation builds as football fans worldwide prepare for another thrilling Premier League campaign!
With 20 teams battling across 380 matches from August through May, understanding the schedule for the English Premier League becomes crucial for planning your viewing calendar.
Will Liverpool defend their title, or can Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Aston Villa or Manchester United challenge them?
Will Tottenham Hotspur and Man Utd improve on their dismal showing in the league last season and find some much-needed form?
Can Nottingham Forest continue their huge improvements from last season at the City Ground? Can Brighton, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace or Fulham improve on solid performances last season?
Will Everton start life at the new Hill Dickson Stadium strongly? Can West Ham change their fortunes after a poor season last year?
Will newly promoted Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley suffer the same fate as Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton and make a swift return back to the Championship?
Whether you’re tracking Liverpool’s title defence, following Newcastle United’s European ambitions, or simply wanting to catch the best London derbies, this comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about English Premier League fixtures for the 2025/26 season!
The Premier League 2025/26 season follows the traditional August-to-May format, spanning 38 match weeks from mid-August 2025 through May 24, 2026. Each of the 20 teams faces every other club twice – once at home and once away – resulting in 38 games per team and 380 total Premier League fixtures across the campaign.
The sophisticated fixture computer uses advanced algorithms to distribute matches strategically, avoiding congestion while maintaining competitive balance. Most matches occur on weekends, particularly Saturday and Sunday, with select Friday and Monday night fixtures designed to maximise fan engagement and broadcast value.
Key scheduling considerations include:
The season opens on August 15, 2025, with Champions Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield. You can find more details on key fixtures below.
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You can find the full details of key dates in the EPL calendar below.
Champions Liverpool start the new Premier League season with the first match taking place at Anfield against Bournemouth. Other key games include Aston Villa hosting Newcastle at Villa Park in Birmingham, while across the Midlands, Wolverhampton Wanderers host Man City in a tough opener for Pep Guardiola’s new-look City team.
However, the biggest fixture of the opening weekend comes at Old Trafford as Man Utd face Arsenal in an opening EPL match that will have huge significance for both teams.
Currently, there are no Premier League fixtures scheduled for Boxing Day, with a full slate of games scheduled for a 3 pm kick-off on the 27th December. However, the Premier League have advised that due to fixture scheduling, some games scheduled for the 27th may be moved to the 26th December.
The 2025/26 New Year Premier League fixture schedule is currently down as Matchday 19 taking place at 8 pm on the 30th December and Matchday 20 at 3 pm on the 3rd January 2026. However, it is likely many of these fixtures will be rearranged to be played on the 31st, 1st and 2nd of January at a later date.
All Premier League fixtures on the final day will take place on Sunday 24th May 2026 kicking off at 4 pm.
The fixtures involving Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur represent the season’s most commercially valuable and tactically fascinating encounters. These teams meet from Aug to May throughout the season!
There are just two weeks of the 2025/26 season (Week 16 and Week 31) when at least two of the Big Eight teams do not face off against each other.
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As you can see, almost every match day of the season there is one match or game that features a member of the big eight facing another club in that elite group.
Local rivalries add extra spice to the Premier League calendar:
| Derby | Teams | Venues | Key Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside | Liverpool & Everton | Anfield & Hill Dickson Stadium | Matchday 5 (Sep), Matchday 33 (Apr) |
| Manchester | Man City & Man United | Etihad & Old Trafford | Matchday 4 (Sep), Matchday 22 (Jan) |
| North West | Liverpool & Manchester United | Anfield & Old Trafford | Matchday 8 (Oct), Matchday 35 (May) |
| London (7 London teams are in the EPL) | Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham | Emirates, Gtech Community Stadium, Stamford Bridge, Selhurst Park, Craven Cottage, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Millennium Stadium | London teams play derby games regularly throughout the season from August to May. |
| North East (this game is also called the Tyne & Wear derby) | Newcastle & Sunderland | St. James’ Park & Stadium of Light | Matchday 16 (Dec), Matchday 31 (Mar) |
| Midlands | Aston Villa & Wolverhampton Wanderers | Villa Park & Molineux | Matchday 13 (Nov), Matchday 28 (Feb) |
The Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton carries particular significance, with the Hillsborough Stadium hosting its first Merseyside derby since Everton’s relocation.
Manchester derbies at Old Trafford and the Etihad promise tactical masterclasses between managers Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim.
Newly-promoted Sunderland get their chance to take on rivals Newcastle United once again in two North East derbies in December and March, while Birmingham-based Aston Villa will face Midlands rivals Wolves in November and February.
Other matches that see rivalries include all games between the Big Eight, as well as the game between Brighton and Crystal Palace,
Television rights drive much of the Premier League’s scheduling strategy, with Sky Sports securing broadcast rights for a minimum of 215 matches throughout 2025/26. This represents a significant increase, reflecting the league’s growing global reach and commercial value.
The Premier League’s global appeal means kick-off times often accommodate international audiences. Early Saturday matches (12:30 PM) work well for Asian markets, while 5:30 PM Sunday fixtures suit American viewers.
The traditional 3:00 PM Saturday slot remains subject to the UK’s broadcasting blackout, designed to protect lower-league attendance.
Friday and Monday night football each provides a standalone showcase, typically featuring compelling matchups without competition from other Premier League games. These fixtures often involve clubs seeking to build momentum or recover from poor form.
FIFA’s international windows significantly influence Premier League scheduling, creating both opportunities and challenges for clubs and broadcasters.
The September international break affects matchweek 4, often creating a natural pause after the season’s opening intensity. October’s window impacts matchweek 8, while November’s break can create fixture congestion in December as clubs balance Premier League commitments with domestic cup competitions.
FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers and Nations League fixtures may affect key player availability, particularly those returning from long-haul travel. Premier League clubs consistently voice concerns about player fatigue and injury risks during these periods.
The March 2026 international fixtures carry particular weight, occurring during the season’s crucial final weeks when title races and relegation battles reach their climax. Teams often must navigate these breaks while maintaining competitive momentum.
The Christmas and New Year period represents the Premier League’s most unique and demanding stretch, setting English football apart from continental leagues that traditionally shut down during winter.
December 26 features ten matches distributed throughout the day, celebrating British football tradition while testing squad depth and management skills. Teams play with minimal recovery time, often leading to increased rotation and tactical compromises.
The December 28-30 weekend provides immediate turnaround, with some teams playing again within 48 hours. Historical data shows increased injury rates and decreased performance metrics during this period, highlighting the physical demands on players.
The FA Cup’s third-round entry in early January compounds these pressures, creating additional fixture congestion for Premier League clubs. Managers must balance domestic cup progression with league priorities, often fielding weakened teams in one competition or the other.
January’s staggered winter break, implemented in recent seasons, provides some relief from this intensity with half of the EPL teams having one weekend off, then the other half the other.
However, the break’s timing and duration remain subjects of ongoing debate between the Premier League, players’ union, and broadcast partners.
May 24, 2026’s final day promises drama with all matches beginning simultaneously at 4:00 PM, preserving competitive integrity while maximising suspense for fans worldwide.
The synchronised start prevents teams from knowing other results before completing their own matches, eliminating potential tactical manipulation or decreased intensity. This format has produced some of the Premier League’s most memorable moments, from title celebrations to relegation heartbreak.
The Premier League’s scheduling team works months in advance to ensure no team gains an unfair advantage through kick-off timing, particularly during the season’s decisive final weeks.
Understanding the schedule for the English Premier League helps fans plan their viewing calendars around work, travel, and other commitments. Key dates to mark include:
Whatever club you support, you can find a wide range of outright betting markets available at bookmakers such as bet365.
So if you enjoy a flutter on your club winning the title, achieving European qualification, or perhaps avoiding the dreaded drop, you can back your own or any other club across a wide range of markets at bet365 Sport. And the site has its own football offers too!
Outlined below are some of the current outright markets you can bet on with bet365.
A bet on which club will finish the season as the Premier League Champions for 2025/26.
This is a bet on which of three possible clubs could be relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season. Newly promoted teams always feature strongly in this market.
A bet on your pick of club to finish in any of the top four places in the Premier League at the end of the season, thus ensuring them of a place in the Champions League next season.
This is a bet on which club out of the three that have been promoted to the Premier League this season will finish highest in the table.
Exact Number of Trophies – Liverpool
England’s most successful club begin the season as Premier League Champions, so this bet is on how many trophies Liverpool Football Club will end up winning this season. With the minimum choice zero and the maximum number four. Note this market does not include the Community Shield.
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