Premier League 2026/27 fixture release LIVE Manchester United and Man City schedules revealed

Man United and Manchester City will learn their Premier League schedules for the 2026/27 season today and we'll bring you all the updates you need as the fixtures are released.

Here we go then. We're less than one month removed from the end of the 2025/26 season and in the midst of a World Cup, but the Premier League waits for no man.

Today, Manchester United and Manchester City will learn their fixture schedules for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign when the full fixture list is revealed at 10am.

Michael Carrick will be at the helm for United and all eyes are on how he builds on the impressive job he did after replacing Ruben Amorim in January, guiding the club back into the Champions League with plenty to spare.

Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.

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Various Prices

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Official premium experiences at Old Trafford are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.

We're still waiting for news of Enzo Maresca's arrival at City, but the former Chelsea man is still expected to be appointed at the Etihad and today we'll find out who his opening league games as City boss will be against.

We'll have everything you need to know below, so stick with us to ensure you don't miss any of the breaking news, reaction and analysis.

Thousands of Man City fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Various Prices

Seat Unique

Buy official packages at Seat Unique

Official premium experiences at the Etihad are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.

Who's coming up to the Premier League?

City and United have a few new teams to face this season after Wolves, Burnley and West Ham were relegated. First up is Championship winners Coventry City. The Sky Blues made a triumphant return to the top flight managed by former Chelsea player and manager Frank Lampard. They finished 11 points clear of Ipswich Town.

Ipswich sealed automatic promotion on the final day of the campaign with former United assistant Kieran McKenna in charge. The Tractor Boys were handed a blow this summer when McKenna chose to stand down to take some time away from football. United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is one of the managers in the picture to replace McKenna.

In the play-offs it was Hull City who were promoted. Despite finishing sixth, the Tigers ran the gauntlet beating third place Millwall over two legs to set up a final against Southampton. However, the Saints were kicked out of the play-offs for spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough who were subsequently reinstated. But it was Hull who were successful at Wembley with Oli McBurnie scoring the winner in the last minute of the game.

How is the fixture list compiled?

Work on the 2026/27 fixture list began six months before today's announcement. Having taken into account Champions League dates, when local teams are able to play home and away, police advice and a multitude of other factors, the Premier League's supercomputer then works out which order games should be played. The computer must follow these rules though:

In any five matches there should be a split of three home fixtures and two away; or two home fixtures and three away.

A team will never have more than two home or away matches in a row and, wherever possible, teams will be home and away either side of FA Cup ties and international breaks.

A club will not start or finish the season with two home or two away matches for reasons of fairness. Around the Christmas period, if a team are at home on the first round of matches after Christmas Day they will be away on New Year's Day or an equivalent date and midweek rounds.

The Premier League also tries to maintain a Saturday home-away sequence throughout the season wherever possible.

Two hours to go!

We are just a couple of hours away from the fixture list being confirmed. City and United fans, who do you want on the opening weekend of the Premier League season?

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What United want

There has been a growing sense of momentum at Old Trafford since January and it was interesting to hear Omar Berrada talk openly of winning the Premier League title perhaps as soon as next season.

That still feels a stretch, but if Carrick's side gets off to a good start and can keep riding that wave of positivity, then you never know.

They will want a relatively simple start to enable them to do that. If they can keep pace early on, then belief will only start to grow.

Why does the Premier League season start later this year?

Explaining the decision for the season starting later this year, the Premier League explained:

The Premier League will start one week later this season than in 2025/26. This is because, with an increasingly congested global football calendar, player welfare remains a priority for the Premier League. Starting on August 22 will allow for 89 clear days from the end of the current season and 33 days from the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.

Key dates in the Premier League season

The 2026/27 season will kick off one week later than last year on Saturday, August 22. City and United's final matches of the campaign will be played on Sunday, May 30. This is a week before the Champions League final in the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Saturday, June 5.

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Champions League fixture dates

As Ty mentioned, Champions League opponents have not yet been confirmed but we do know the fixture dates when City and United will be playing in the competition. Look out for who both clubs face around these dates as that will be when squads will be stretched to their maximum:

8-10 September

13-14 October

20-21 October

3-4 November

24-25 November

8-9 December

19-20 January

27 January

Will Boxing Day football return this year?

Last year, Premier League fans were annoyed to see just one Boxing Day match on the calendar. United fans got their traditional festive fix as they hosted Newcastle in the less than traditional 8pm slot. In a statement, the Premier League explained this decision:

The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an important tradition in English football. There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup. This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition – fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995. With fewer weekends to work with, the League is bound by how the calendar falls. The League can give an assurance that next season there will be more Premier League matches on Boxing Day – as the date falls on a Saturday. As with previous years, and in keeping with our commitment to clubs, special arrangements have been made to allow more time between games played across the festive period. This will allow greater time for players to recover with the rest periods between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being increased to ensure that no club plays within 60 hours of another match.

United have a clear aim this season

The Reds finished the 2025/26 season nine points behind City and 14 behind eventual champions Arsenal. United's goal has to be to close that gap. Ask Carrick and he will tell you that there is little success to be taken from finishing third for a club of this size. Whatever the order of fixtures today, that has to be the goal.

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City need to be back at the top

This is arguably City's most important season for a long time. They need to show it is business as usual at the Etihad Stadium despite Guardiola's exit. To do that, winning the Premier League has to be their top target.

United's key dates

The release of the fixtures will have a little more intrigue than last season for United and there will be eight dates in particular they want to keep an eye on.

Although we don't know their Champions League opponents or schedule yet, we do know they will get eight games in the league phase and who they play after those matches will be fascinating.

You ideally want to avoid away games after European fixtures, especially long trips, and also you'd rather stay clear of any really big games straight after a European assignment.

Uncertainty at City

We haven't had to say that much in the past few years but Guardiola's exit at the end of last season has left City with a huge hole to fill. Maresca is widely considered to be the great man's replacement but negotiations have taken longer to finalise than first hoped. So for now, there is uncertainty as to how the Blues will look when the action gets underway in August.

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Excitement for United

There will be a lot of excitement around the fixture list release at Old Trafford. The Reds know they will be beginning the campaign with Carrick at the wheel. Considering how well the interim spell went, there will be hope they can continue to move from strength to strength this season.

What were United and City's starts like last season?

United couldn't have asked for a much tougher start to last season. They played Arsenal, City and Chelsea in their opening five games, with Burnley and Fulham their other two games. Seven points from a possible 15 wasn't disastrous but it's nowhere near where United needed to be.

City made a great start with a 4-0 away win over Wolves, but the wheels came off with back-to-back defeats against Spurs and Brighton. Then came the 3-0 win over United and a 1-1 draw with Arsenal - both sides had very tricky starts!

When are the fixtures released?

The full fixture lists for all 20 Premier League clubs will be revealed at 10am and we'll bring you them at exactly 10am.

Stick with us before then for all the build-up and we'll have the best analysis after the lists have been released.

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Welcome

Good morning!

Welcome to our live blog as we learn what Manchester United's and Manchester City's fixture schedules are going to look like next season.

Enzo Maresca's appointment hasn't been rubber-stamped but he's still expected to be announced as Pep Guardiola's replacement.

On the other side of the city, Michael Carrick did enough to be handed the United gig on a permanent basis and he has already secured his first win as permanent head coach, having guided United to a comfortable win over Brighton on the final day of the 2025/26 season.

Fixture release day is always an exciting day for football fans and we'll have everything you need to know right here, so stick with us for breaking news, reaction and analysis.

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