Preparations are in full swing: training camps, friendlies, and final squad decisions are currently shaping the daily routine of English clubs. On August 21, the 35th edition of the Premier League will finally get underway. Defending champions Arsenal will host newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium in the opening match.
There was also plenty of action on the transfer market: with Morgan Rogers (to Chelsea) and Elliot Anderson (to Manchester City), two players switched sides within the league for new British record transfer fees. The summer transfer window opened on June 15 and closes on Tuesday, September 1, at midnight German time.
This is how the Premier League format works
Twenty teams compete in the Premier League. Each team plays 38 matches—19 at home and 19 away. A win earns three points, a draw one point. Teams get nothing for a loss. After 38 matchdays, the team with the most points is crowned champion.
If teams are level on points, overall goal difference is the first tiebreaker. If that is also equal, the team with more goals scored is ranked higher.
At the bottom of the table, it’s all about staying in the top English division. The teams finishing 18th, 19th, and 20th are relegated directly to the EFL Championship. Last season, West Ham United, Burnley, and Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated.
These 20 teams will play in the Premier League 2026/27
Seventeen teams from last season are back for 2026/27. This includes defending champions Arsenal and Manchester City, who are once again considered top favourites. Also returning are Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Everton, Brentford, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Leeds United.
Three traditional clubs are returning to the English top flight after several years away. Coventry City, under Frank Lampard, secured direct promotion as Championship winners after 25 years of absence. Ipswich Town returned as runners-up. Hull City won the playoffs against Southampton to complete the lineup.
Premier League fixtures: Who plays on Matchday 1?
Defending champions Arsenal open the season at home against promoted Coventry City, before the rest of the league follows throughout the opening weekend. All kick-off times are in German time:
Friday, 21.08.2026, 21:00 CET: Arsenal – Coventry City
Saturday, 22.08.2026, 13:30 CET: Hull City – Manchester United
Saturday, 22.08.2026, 16:00 CET: Everton – Crystal Palace
Saturday, 22.08.2026, 16:00 CET: Ipswich Town – Sunderland
Saturday, 22.08.2026, 16:00 CET: Nottingham Forest – Leeds United
Saturday, 22.08.2026, 18:30 CET: Brentford – Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday, 23.08.2026, 15:00 CET: Brighton & Hove Albion – Aston Villa
Sunday, 23.08.2026, 15:00 CET: Manchester City – AFC Bournemouth
Sunday, 23.08.2026, 17:30 CET: Newcastle United – FC Liverpool
Monday, 24.08.2026, 21:00 CET: Fulham – FC Chelsea
When do the big derbies take place?
Traditionally, the matches between major rivals are the highlights of the season for Premier League fans. All kick-off times are in German time:
Manchester Derby
First leg, Matchday 4, Sunday, September 13, 2026, 17:30: Manchester United vs. Manchester City
Second leg, Matchday 30, Saturday, March 20, 2027, tba: Manchester City vs. Manchester United
Merseyside Derby
First leg, Matchday 12, Saturday, November 28, 2026, 16:00: Everton vs. FC Liverpool
Second leg, Matchday 23, Saturday, January 30, 2027, tba: FC Liverpool vs. Everton
North London Derby
First leg, Matchday 14, Saturday, December 5, 2026, 16:00: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal
Second leg, Matchday 34, Saturday, May 1, 2027, tba: Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Also, this season will again feature the traditional Boxing Day matchday on December 26, 2026 (Matchday 17).
The most important transfers
Arsenal: Bruno Guimaraes (€87.5 million from Newcastle United), Piero Hincapie (€52 million from Bayer Leverkusen), Christos Tzolis (around €40 million from Club Brugge), Illan Meslier (free transfer from Leeds United)
Manchester City: Elliot Anderson (€135 million from Nottingham Forest)
Manchester United: Andrey Santos (€56 million from FC Chelsea), Youri Tielemans (€41 million from Aston Villa)
Liverpool: Ronald Araujo (loan with €55 million purchase option from FC Barcelona)
Chelsea: Morgan Rogers (€137 million from Aston Villa), Geovany Quenda (€52 million from Sporting CP)
Tottenham Hotspur: Sandro Tonali (€108 million from Newcastle United), Mateus Fernandes (€100 million from West Ham United), Jan Paul van Hecke (€60 million from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Others: Dwight McNeil (Crystal Palace, from Everton), Brennan Johnson (Everton, from Crystal Palace), Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop (both Ipswich Town, from Fulham), Thomas Meunier (Sunderland, free transfer from Lille), Danny Welbeck (Chelsea, from Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United, from Manchester City), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Crystal Palace, free transfer from Ajax)
Notable departures: Anthony Gordon (from Newcastle United to FC Barcelona, €80 million), Marc Cucurella (from FC Chelsea to Real Madrid, €55 million), Cristian Romero (from Tottenham Hotspur to Atlético Madrid), Ibrahima Konaté (from FC Liverpool to Real Madrid, free transfer), Mohamed Salah (from FC Liverpool to Trabzonspor, free transfer), Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia (all Manchester United, contracts terminated)
All confirmed summer transfers in the Premier League 2026/27 at a glance
These positions that lead to Europe
According to the standard allocation, the top four teams in the table qualify for the Champions League, fifth place for the Europa League, and sixth for the Conference League. Additional Champions League spots can be awarded via the UEFA coefficient.
Thanks to strong performances by its clubs in European competitions, England has secured a fifth Champions League spot—the so-called "Performance Spot." As a result, the Europa League and Conference League places each move down one position in the table.
The final allocation was also decided on the last matchday of the previous season. Since cup winners Manchester City had already qualified for the Champions League via the league, the vacated European spot moved down the table. Sunderland, as seventh in the table, took advantage and secured a Europa League place with a win over Chelsea on the final day—at the expense of the Blues, who will not play in any European competition in 2026/27.
England sends nine teams to Europe
In the 2026/27 season, the Premier League is represented by a total of nine clubs in European competitions. Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Liverpool will play in the Champions League.
Bournemouth, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace will play in the Europa League—Crystal Palace secured their spot by winning the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano. Brighton & Hove Albion will compete in the Conference League and will go straight into the league phase, skipping the playoff round usually required for English teams.