Ligue 1 2026/2027: a preview from Oranje Palace

On Friday 21 August, the Ligue 1, the top tier of French football, kicks off. From Le Classique between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille to the Derby du Nord between Lille and Lens, it’s set to be another mouth-watering season.

Can anyone dethrone Paris Saint-Germain? Or will the Parisian club claim the league title once again? And could RC Lens, Lille OSC, Olympique Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais or AS Monaco spring a surprise. Whatever happens, it’s reason enough for Oranje Palace to look ahead to a new season in a league that has produced an increasing number of top international players in recent years. In fact, the winners of the last two Champions League campaigns play in Ligue 1!

When does the 2026/2027 Ligue 1 season start?

The 2026/2027 Ligue 1 season officially kicks off on Friday 21 August 2026 with the match Marseille v Strasbourg. This first round of fixtures will be spread across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In total, each team will play 34 matches: 17 at home and 17 away. The final round of fixtures of the season is scheduled for Saturday 29 May 2027. Although we cannot rule out the possibility that the champions may already have been decided by then.

Ligue 1: a look back at the 2025/2026 season

It will come as no surprise to anyone that Paris Saint-Germain were once again crowned French champions last season. The Parisians picked up 76 points from 34 matches and won 24 games. This secured PSG’s fourteenth league title in the club’s history and their fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title. And yet, this also means that the Parisians failed to win no fewer than ten matches.

Surprisingly, the main challenger came from the north of France. RC Lens finished second with 70 points, keeping pace with PSG for much of the season. OSC Lille came third with 61 points, followed by Olympique Lyonnais with 60 points. Olympique Marseille finished fifth with 59 points, level on points with sixth-placed Stade Rennais.

Ligue 1 2026/2027: Matchday 1 fixtures

Below you will find the full fixtures for the first matchday:

Promoted and relegated teams

As is the case every season, two clubs are relegated from Ligue 1, whilst two new teams are promoted in their place. This season, Troyes and Le Mans have been promoted. Troyes won the Ligue 2 title and are returning to the top flight after three seasons. Le Mans did the same following a truly eventful final matchday and are returning to Ligue 1 after a long absence.

On the other hand, FC Nantes and FC Metz will not be back in Ligue 1 this season. Nantes finished seventeenth, whilst Metz finished bottom with just seventeen points from 34 matches.

Which clubs will be playing in Ligue 1 in the 2026/2027 season?

Since 2023, Ligue 1 has consisted of eighteen teams. Below is a list of the teams competing in the top French division this year.

Favourites for the Ligue 1 title

Paris Saint-Germain are once again the clear favourites to win Ligue 1. The team from the French capital were crowned champions last season with 76 points and are now chasing their sixth consecutive league title. What’s more, PSG boast a squad featuring players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Achraf Hakimi and João Neves. Mika Godts was added to the squad this summer. Can the Belgian make an immediate impact on the Parisians’ impressive form? A potential league title for PSG would earn you odds of 1.12.

However, we saw last season that PSG cannot simply sit back and relax. The gap to the runners-up wasn’t actually that big. Partly because of this, a team like Marseille or Monaco will always go for the highest possible finish. Although Marseille finished fifth last season, they still have an excellent squad capable of giving anyone a run for their money. If you think L’OM will win the title, you’ll be betting at odds of 11.00.

In addition, Lille OSC, Olympique Lyonnais and AS Monaco are teams to keep an eye on. Lyon finished fourth last season, Lille came third and AS Monaco simply always have plenty of individual talent. At Monaco, for example, Folarin Balogun is a player who is likely to attract a lot of attention this season. Are you backing the Monegasques to win the league? The odds on AS Monaco winning the league title are 17.00.

Dutch players in Ligue 1

Admittedly, Ligue 1 doesn’t offer the same entertainment value as the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A. This is partly because there are significantly fewer Dutch players in action. And yet there are always those rising stars or experienced players who make a big impression in French football every week. Below are a few players you should definitely keep an eye on.

Quinten Timber – Olympique Marseille

The best-known name is Quinten Timber. The midfielder moved from Feyenoord to Olympique Marseille in January 2026 and made an impression almost straight away. It is no surprise that he has already been described by Ligue 1 itself as a player to watch, and he played a key role in L’OM’s midfield.

Emmanuel Emegha – RC Strasbourg

Emmanuel Emegha is another interesting Dutch striker to keep an eye on. The tall striker, who would likely have been part of the Dutch World Cup squad had he not been injured, has been playing for Strasbourg since 2023 and has continued to develop in France. Standing at 1.96 metres tall, Emegha – who is under contract with Chelsea – is a striker who is difficult to mark and always manages to find the back of the net.

Jordan Teze – AS Monaco

Jordan Teze has also become a familiar face in Ligue 1. The defender moved from PSV to AS Monaco in 2024 and has developed into a versatile player who can operate both in defence and in midfield.

Ruben Kluivert – Olympique Lyonnais

Finally, Ruben Kluivert is a name to watch. The son of Patrick Kluivert plays for Olympique Lyonnais and made sixteen Ligue 1 appearances last season. This has given the defender the necessary experience at the highest level in France. Can he prove himself again this season?

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026/2027 Ligue 1 season start?

The 2026/2027 Ligue 1 season kicks off on Friday 21 August 2026 with the match between Olympique Marseille and RC Strasbourg. The remaining eight fixtures will be played on Saturday 22 August and Sunday 23 August.

How many clubs play in Ligue 1?

There are eighteen clubs in Ligue 1. Each club plays 34 matches, meaning the season consists of 306 league matches.

Who are the reigning French champions?

Paris Saint-Germain are the reigning French champions. PSG won the title in the 2025/2026 season with 76 points, securing the fourteenth Ligue 1 title in the club’s history. It was also the Parisians’ fifth consecutive league title.

Which clubs have been promoted to Ligue 1?

Troyes and Le Mans are the two promoted sides for the 2026/2027 season. They take the places of FC Nantes and FC Metz, who have been relegated to Ligue 2.

Who are the favourites for the Ligue 1 title?

Paris Saint-Germain start as the clear favourites for the league title. RC Lens, Lille OSC, Olympique Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais and AS Monaco are seen as the main challengers. Lens, in particular, will be looking to narrow the gap on PSG even further after finishing second last season.