Arsenal to Open 2026/27 Season Against Newly-Promoted Coventry

June 19, 2026

The Premier League has unveiled its fixture list for 2026/27, with defending champions Arsenal tasked with welcoming newly-promoted Coventry City to the Emirates for the curtain-raiser on Friday 21 August.

Play-off victors Hull City will host Manchester United the following afternoon, while fellow promotion winners Ipswich entertain Sunderland on the same day. The opening weekend also features several storylines worth monitoring: a Manchester City side without Pep Guardiola will face Bournemouth—now under Marco Rose's stewardship—on Sunday, whilst Andoni Iraola begins his Liverpool tenure with a trip to Newcastle. Xabi Alonso's Chelsea venture starts away at Fulham on the Monday, where the hosts remain managerial hunting as they search for Marco Silva's successor.

The season will commence just 34 days after the World Cup concludes and run through to Sunday 30 May. The fixture schedule comprises 33 weekend rounds plus five mid-week fixtures, designed to sidestep clashes with European competitions wherever feasible.

The international calendar has undergone restructuring, replacing the traditional three two-week breaks in early season with a revised approach. A new three-week international break will commence after the weekend of 19/20 September, consolidating what would previously have been separate stoppages in September and October, with the customary two-week November break retained.

Opening Weekend Fixtures

Friday, 21 August

Arsenal v Coventry (20:00)

Saturday, 22 August

Hull City v Manchester United (12:30)

Everton v Crystal Palace (15:00)

Ipswich v Sunderland (15:00)

Nottingham Forest v Leeds (15:00)

Brentford v Tottenham (17:30)

Sunday, 23 August

Brighton v Aston Villa (14:00)

Manchester City v Bournemouth (14:00)