The Premier League has confirmed that the 2026-27 season will kick off on Saturday, 22 August, and conclude on Sunday, 30 May 2027.

This schedule makes it one of the latest season start and finish dates in the league’s history, second only to the COVID-affected 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns.

According to BBC Sports on Monday, the league said the adjustments were made to address a “congested global football calendar” and to prioritise “player welfare.”

The new schedule allows an 89-day gap between the end of the 2025-26 season, which began on 15 August, and the start of the following campaign, while also providing 33 days after the World Cup final before league matches resume.

“Beginning next season, one week later will mean a gap of 89 days from the end of the current campaign, and allow for 33 days from the date of the World Cup final,” the Premier League said.

In addition, the Premier League said that its schedule will be designed to avoid “clashes with UEFA, club competition dates, wherever possible”, and that “over the Christmas and New Year period, no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours”.

Next season, there will be no international break in October, although the September one will be extended to allow national teams to play four matches instead of two.