The Premier League is the greatest and grandest league in all of football. Millions upon millions tune in to watch teams compete in the English top flight and some of the best clubs and most impressive players all take part in the Premier League year after year. The likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all play in the Premier League.
The money on offer, the drama that takes place on the pitch and the stars who represent the Premier League have made it must watch for fans all over the world and as such, it's important that it has venues worthy of hosting games. The Premier League has some of the best stadiums in football, but it also has some less-than-impressive grounds.
With Leeds United and Sunderland being promoted to the top flight last season, two more incredible stadiums in Elland Road and the Stadium of Light will be back among the big time. Now, AI has taken a look at all 20 stadiums that will be in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign and ranked them from worst to best. The following is some important information about the ranking, such as judging criteria, before we get started:
Criteria: Rankings consider atmosphere (25%), matchday experience (40%), transport/accessibility (20%), and aesthetics/history (15%), as outlined by The Athletic, alongside fan surveys and expert rankings.
Subjectivity: Atmosphere varies by match and team form, making rankings contentious. For example, Anfield’s iconic status is tempered by lower attendance (92.3% fill rate) due to ongoing redevelopment.
Everton’s New Stadium: Its ranking is speculative due to its newness, but expectations are high for its modern design and increased capacity.
Sources: The ranking draws from fan surveys, expert analyses (e.g., Adrian Durham, Mail Sport), and capacity data, ensuring a balanced perspective.
11 Bottom Half
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20 - Bramley-Moore Dock (Everton) Capacity: 52,888
AI's reasoning: Everton’s new stadium is untested in the Premier League, debuting in 2025/26. Its modern design and waterfront location promise potential, but without a proven atmosphere or history, it ranks lowest. Fans expect a vibrant future, but it’s a blank slate for now.
19 - Vitality Stadium (AFC Bournemouth) Capacity: 11,379
AI's Reasoning: The smallest Premier League stadium, Vitality offers an intimate feel but lacks character and capacity. Its compact size creates noise, but basic facilities and remote location for northern fans keep it near the bottom.
18 - AMEX Stadium (Brighton & Hove Albion) Capacity: 31,800
AI's reasoning: Modern and visually appealing, the AMEX suffers from a subdued atmosphere, often likened to a friendly match. Its design is sleek, but small ends limit noise, making it less intimidating than traditional grounds.
17 - London Stadium (West Ham United) Capacity: 62,500
AI's reasoning: Built for the 2012 Olympics, this stadium feels detached from football’s soul, with stands far from the pitch. West Ham fans generate decent noise, but it lacks the intensity of Upton Park, earning it a low ranking.
16 - Turf Moor (Burnley) Capacity: 21,401
AI's reasoning: Turf Moor’s old-school charm and tight layout can create an intimidating vibe, but outdated facilities and inconsistent attendance drag it down. It’s cozy but lacks the grandeur of larger venues.
15 - Gtech Community Stadium (Brentford) Capacity: 17,250
AI's reasoning: Brentford’s modern, compact stadium delivers a solid atmosphere due to its tight design. However, its small size and rugby-sharing limitations prevent it from ranking higher. It’s functional but lacks history.
14 - Selhurst Park (Crystal Palace) Capacity: 25,486
AI's reasoning : Known for its electric atmosphere, driven by the Holmesdale Fanatics, Selhurst is let down by dated facilities and obstructed views. Transport issues and the need for redevelopment keep it mid-tier.
13 - Craven Cottage (Fulham) Capacity: 25,700
AI's reasoning: Charming and historic, Craven Cottage’s riverside setting and unique cottage changing rooms are iconic. Its friendly atmosphere and smaller size limit its intensity, but recent upgrades help its case.
12 - Etihad Stadium (Manchester City) Capacity: 55,097
AI's reasoning: The Etihad boasts modern facilities and a retractable roof, but its atmosphere is often criticized as lackluster (“Emptyhad”). Its Commonwealth Games conversion is smoother than West Ham’s, but it lacks soul.
11 - Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) Capacity: 40,341
AI's reasoning: Intimate and historic, Stamford Bridge offers a strong atmosphere when Chelsea perform well. However, aging facilities, transport challenges, and a tourist-heavy crowd hold it back. Planned expansion could elevate it.
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10 Molineux Stadium (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Capacity: 32,050
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AI's reasoning: Molineux’s passionate fans and vibrant yellow stands create a fierce atmosphere. Its traditional design keeps fans close to the pitch, but poor away fan placement and slightly dated facilities limit its ranking.
The product on the pitch hasn't been at its best over the last few years for Wolverhampton Wanderers, but their fans have remained as passionate as ever and they've done so in the intimate Molineux. The ground has been home for the club since 1889, but considering it's been nearly 15 years since it was last renovated, it could do with some work.
9 The City Ground (Nottingham Forest)
Capacity: 30,445
The City Ground Nottingham Forest
AI's reasoning: With a rich history and passionate support (98.9% fill rate), The City Ground thrives on its central location and intense atmosphere. It’s compact and lively but needs modern upgrades to compete with top venues.
Situated right at the heart of the Nottingham city centre, The City Ground is the perfect venue for a club blessed with the passionate fanbase that Nottingham Forest has. The club have embarked on some of their best seasons in decades recently and they've brought an incredible atmosphere with them. The City Ground could do with some updating, but its still a fine stadium and it won't look out of place hosting European football next season.
8 Stadium of Light (Sunderland)
Capacity: 48,707
Sunderland-stadium-of-Light
AI's reasoning: Sunderland’s large stadium can be electric when full, but empty seats during less successful periods dampen its impact. Its return to the Premier League boosts its ranking, though it’s not as iconic as the top grounds.
After several years out of the top flight, and even some in League One, Sunderland are back in the promised land heading into the 2025/26 campaign and with a venue like the Stadium of Light, it already feels like they belong. The Black Cats have an incredible support, which hardly wavered at all despite dropping into the third tier. The ground can be electric, but it's not quite on the same level as those above it.
7 Emirates Stadium (Arsenal)
Capacity: 60,704
A screen at the Emirates Stadium welcoming fans.
Photo courtesy of Reuters.
AI's reasoning: The Emirates is a modern, spacious venue with excellent facilities and sightlines. However, its atmosphere is often criticized as flat compared to Highbury, especially in less crucial matches. Its sleek design and accessibility push it into the top half, but it lacks the raw intensity of older stadiums.
Opening in 2006, the Emirates Stadium is one of the newest grounds in the Premier League and while it hasn't seen Arsenal's best days so far, the ground is fit for a champion. It hasn't got the historical significance of some grounds in the top flight, which has hurt its ranking a little, but it's hard to argue that the Emirates is one of the best looking stadiums in England.
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6 Villa Park (Aston Villa)
Capacity: 42,785
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AI's reasoning: A classic stadium with a passionate fanbase, Villa Park offers great value and a lively atmosphere. Its traditional design and close pitch proximity make it a fan favorite, though it lacks the cutting-edge facilities of newer grounds.
Like some of the other stadiums ranked below it, Villa Park isn't quite as up to date as those venues that rank above it. There's no denying how important it's been for Aston Villa, though, and it's hard to imagine the club ever playing anywhere else at this point. It's a traditional football stadium and with many teams heading for more modern designs in recent years, that's something that many fans appreciate.
5 St. James’ Park (Newcastle United)
Capacity: 52,354
St James' Park
AI's reasoning: A fortress in Newcastle’s city center, St. James’ Park is renowned for its raucous Geordie support (99.4% fill rate). Its atmosphere is electric, but slightly dated facilities keep it from the top tier. Planned expansion to 70,000 could change that.
While the away seating for visiting opposition supporters has become something of an internet meme, St. James' Park is one of the most iconic stadiums in football and it's a worthy home to one of the Premier League's most passionate fanbases in Newcastle United. With the club once again becoming a top side under the new regime, the ground has been a fitting venue for their exciting progress.
4 Old Trafford (Manchester United)
Capacity: 74,310
Old Trafford
AI's reasoning: The “Theatre of Dreams” is iconic, with the largest capacity in the Premier League and a storied history. Its atmosphere can be incredible (e.g., “Glory Glory Man United”), but recent inconsistent performances and aging infrastructure (e.g., leaky roofs) have dulled its shine. Redevelopment plans could restore its glory.
There's no denying that Old Trafford needs some serious work. There's been a lot of controversy about the state of the ground recently, but there's no denying how iconic it is. The venue has been there and seen it all with Manchester United over the years and while the Red Devils have plans to eventually move out of the ground and into their brand-new one, Old Trafford will remain as one of the best venues in England until they leave.
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3 Elland Road (Leeds United)
Capacity: 37,890
Elland Road-1
AI's reasoning: Elland Road’s passionate Leeds fans create one of the most intimidating atmospheres in the league. Its old-school charm and history are undeniable, but dated facilities and ongoing redevelopment slightly limit its ranking.
After earning promotion back to the Premier League after winning the Championship last season, Leeds United's Elland Road has immediately become one of the best stadiums in the top flight. The Yorkshire club have spent their entire history in the ground and it's become one of the most intimidating in football for opponents. It could use some rennovation, though, and likely will if Leeds can establish themselves in the top flight.
2 Anfield (Liverpool)
Capacity: 61,276
General view of Anfield
AI's reasoning: Anfield is legendary for its atmosphere, especially during European nights with “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Its 92.3% fill rate reflects ongoing stand expansions, slightly tempering its vibe. Modern upgrades and historic weight make it a top contender, but its facilities aren’t as advanced as Tottenham’s.
Liverpool are one of the most successful football teams in the world and have one of the biggest fanbases. It's only fitting, then, that they also have one of the most iconic stadiums on the planet and they do in Anfield. The atmosphere in the ground is undeniable and listening to the supporters belting out their anthem is enough to make any football fan's hair stand up on the back of their neck.