Chelsea have been handed a dream start to the new Premier League season. While the Blues' firm focus is on matters at the Club World Cup, they have discovered their top-flight schedule for 2025/26.
Enzo Maresca's side are expected to have a limited pre-season compared to some of their rivals, including Arsenal and Liverpool, with just two friendlies scheduled so far. It means that the Blues might not be as prepared for the Premier League campaign starting, with the first round of fixtures taking place on in mid-August.
But if Chelsea were hoping for a kind start to the season for them to bed back into domestic action after a chaotic summer with the Club World Cup, they have got what they were wishing for. This is because each of Chelsea's first six opponents finished eighth or below in the Premier League last season.
The Blues kickstart their Premier League campaign with a home game against Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 17. They then travel to West Ham on Saturday, August 23 before facing Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, August 30. After the first international break, the Blues make the short trip to Brentford on Saturday, September 13 and then travel to Manchester United on Saturday, September 20.
Capping off Chelsea's first six Premier League matches is a home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, who finished last season in eighth and just missed out on a place in Europe, on Saturday, September 27.
Chelsea's seventh fixture is where it starts to get a little difficult, as they host Liverpool on Saturday, October 4. They then travel to Nottingham Forest after the second international break on Saturday, October 18.
Although Chelsea's start is kind, to say the least, their end to the Premier League season is tough. After a trip to Arsenal on February 28, the Blues face Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Everton in March.
Fixtures against Manchester City, Manchester United and Brighton come in April, and then Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Tottenham and Sunderland follow in May, finalising a difficult end to the campaign.
Here are Chelsea's 2025/26 Premier League fixtures in full:
17/08 - Crystal Palace (h)
23/08 - West Ham United (a)
30/08 - Fulham (h)
13/09 - Brentford (a)
20/09 - Manchester United (a)
27/09 - Brighton & Hove Albion (h)
04/10 - Liverpool (h)
18/10 - Nottingham Forest (a)
25/10 - Sunderland (h)
01/11 - Tottenham Hotspur (a)
08/11 - Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)
22/11 - Burnley (a)
29/11 - Arsenal (h)
03/12 - Leeds United (a)
06/12 - A.F.C. Bournemouth (a)
13/12 - Everton (h)
20/12 - Newcastle United (a)
27/12 - Aston Villa (h)
30/12 - A.F.C. Bournemouth (h)
03/01 - Manchester City (a)
07/01 - Fulham (a)
17/01 - Brentford (h)
24/01 - Crystal Palace (a)
31/01 - West Ham United (h)
07/02 - Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)
11/02 - Leeds United (h)
21/02 - Burnley (h)
28/02 - Arsenal (a)
04/03 - Aston Villa (a)
14/03 - Newcastle United (h)
21/03 - Everton (a)
11/04 - Manchester City (h)
18/04 - Manchester United (h)
25/04 - Brighton & Hove Albion (a)
02/05 - Nottingham Forest (h)
09/05 - Liverpool (a)
17/05 - Tottenham Hotspur (h)
24/05 - Sunderland (a)