Premier League 2026/2027: a preview from Oranje Palace

It’s a sad but true fact: football didn’t come home again last summer. But fortunately, the 2026/2027 Premier League is set to kick off again as usual. Can Arsenal retain the league title? Or will Manchester City manage to reclaim it? And what can Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa achieve this season?

After a spectacular summer featuring the 2026 World Cup, it’s time for club football once again. Whilst La Liga and the Eredivisie have already kicked off, the Premier League gets underway on Friday 21 August. From then on, there will be 38 matchdays packed with top-class fixtures, world-class stars, historic rivalries and, of course, plenty of drama at the bottom of the table. Reason enough for Oranje Palace to tell you all about one of the most popular football leagues in the world: the Premier League!

When does the 2026/2027 Premier League season start?

The first matchday of the 2026/2027 Premier League kicks off on Friday 21 August 2026. Due to the 2026 World Cup, the season starts a week later than usual. The final round of fixtures is scheduled for Sunday 30 May 2027, with all matches kicking off simultaneously.

The opening match of the new season promises to be an exciting one. Reigning champions Arsenal will host newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners hoping to secure three crucial points straight away. That same weekend, Manchester United will travel to face newly promoted Hull City, whilst Liverpool, under the guidance of a new manager, will kick off their campaign with an away match against Sean Steur’s Newcastle United.

How did the 2025/2026 Premier League season go?

Arsenal had a fantastic season and were crowned English champions for the first time in 22 years. Mikel Arteta’s side finished with 85 points from 38 matches, maintaining a seven-point lead over Manchester City.

Manchester City finished second with 78 points, whilst Manchester United surprisingly came third with 71 points. Aston Villa finished fourth with 65 points and Liverpool rounded off the top five with 60 points. As a result, the team managed by Arne Slot at the time had a very mediocre season, given that they had been the best in England just a year earlier.

Another team that made an impression was AFC Bournemouth. The club finished sixth and qualified for European football for the first time in its history. This is, in fact, the very reason why the manager left the club and is now in charge at Liverpool. Sunderland finished in a very creditable seventh place and secured a place in the Europa League, whilst Brighton finished eighth and will compete in the Conference League.

At the other end of the table, West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated from the top flight. West Ham’s relegation was particularly striking, given that the London side are still a major club. They finished eighteenth, just a few points behind Tottenham Hotspur.

Premier League 2026/2027: Matchday 1 fixtures

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

Promoted and relegated teams

Every season in the Premier League, three clubs are promoted from the Championship to the top tier in England. Last season, Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City achieved this, securing their return to the world’s biggest league. Coventry City’s return is particularly interesting. The club has been out of the limelight for a while, but remains a household name in English football. This year, they are gearing up for a new challenge amongst the country’s top clubs.

On the other hand, West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers have dropped out of the Premier League. Burnley were relegated back in April, whilst West Ham and Wolves ultimately took the other two relegation places.

Key matches of the 2026/2027 Premier League season

As you’d expect from the Premier League, there are countless top-of-the-table clashes on the fixture list. How about the Manchester Derby between Manchester United and Manchester City? And, of course, the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur is a must-see.

In addition, the fixtures between Liverpool and Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City, and Arsenal and Manchester City are all matches to look forward to. What’s more, there’s a London derby almost every matchday. And to highlight the strength of the Premier League once again: the opening matchday of the Premier League already features an exciting fixture in Newcastle United v Liverpool.

Which clubs play in the Premier League?

Twenty clubs will compete in the 2026/2027 Premier League. Below is an overview of all the teams:

Top Premier League favourites

There are few leagues in Europe where so many clubs are in with a chance of winning the title. In the Netherlands, we have the traditional top three; in Spain, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid call the shots; whilst Bayern Munich are the strongest side in the German Bundesliga year in, year out. In England, we see a large number of teams – including Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and, for example, Manchester United – all vying to be the best in the country.

According to the bookmakers, Arsenal are the favourites to win the league title. At Oranje Palace, the odds for the Gunners to win another league title are 2.25. Second on the list is Manchester City, the team that, for the first time in years, is not managed by Pep Guardiola. A league title for The Citizens will earn you odds of 4.50.

Do you think Liverpool will bounce back after a mediocre season and win the Premier League title this year? You’ll then be betting at odds of 6.00. Fourth on the list of contenders is Manchester United, who staged a remarkable recovery last year under Michael Carrick. The odds on Manchester United winning the league title stand at 8.00.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026/2027 Premier League season start?

The 2026/2027 Premier League season begins on Friday 21 August 2026 with the match Arsenal v Coventry City. A further nine matches will then be played on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

How many clubs play in the Premier League?

There are twenty clubs in the Premier League. Each team plays 38 matches: 19 home matches and 19 away matches. This means a total of 380 league matches are played.

Who are the reigning champions of England?

Arsenal are the reigning English champions. The Gunners won the title in the 2025/2026 season with 85 points, seven points clear of runners-up Manchester City. It was Arsenal’s first Premier League title since 2004.

Which clubs have been promoted to the Premier League?

Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City are the three promoted sides for the 2026/2027 season. They take the places of West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are competing in the Championship this season.

Who are the favourites for the league title?

Arsenal and Manchester City appear to be the main favourites. Arsenal start as reigning champions, whilst Manchester City are looking to reclaim the title after finishing second last season. Teams such as Manchester United and Liverpool are also mentioned as favourites for the Premier League title.

Who are the players to watch out for?

Some of the big names to keep an eye on include Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka, Bruno Fernandes, Virgil van Dijk, Florian Wirtz and Viktor Gyökeres. In addition, young players such as Nico O’Reilly and Amad Diallo, along with other talented youngsters, could make significant progress.