Leeds United learn late 2026/27 Premier League start date with Boxing Day promise pending survival
Dates for next season’s Premier League have been announced.
Leeds United will kick off next season a week later should they retain their Premier League status.
The Premier League has confirmed its start and end dates for the 2026/27 campaign with a later start due to the FIFA World Cup.
And fans can look forward a more normal Boxing Day with it falling on a Saturday in 2026. This season Leeds will be without Boxing Day football with the top flight blaming fixture congestion due to European competitions.
A Premier League statement said: "Boxing Day 2026 falls on a Saturday and a Premier League weekend round - so a more normal Boxing Day schedule of matches will return next season.
"The Premier League Season 2026/27 dates have been confirmed, with the opening match round starting on Saturday 22 August 2026.
“The final match round will be played on Sunday 30 May 2027, when all fixtures will kick off simultaneously as usual.With an increasingly congested global football calendar, player welfare remains a priority for the Premier League.
“As a result, the Premier League will start one week later next season. This will allow for 89 clear days from the end of the current season and 33 days from the FIFA World Cup 26 Final.
“The season will conclude one week prior to the UEFA Champions League Final which will be played on Saturday 5 June 2027."The 2026/27 Season will consist of 33 weekends and five midweek match rounds.
“The Premier League schedule will be designed to avoid domestic competition clashes with UEFA club competition dates, wherever possible.
“Over the Christmas and New Year period, no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours. This is in keeping with commitments made to clubs to address the congested Christmas and New Year schedule within the expanded international calendar."