Christmas has truly come early with the Premier League announcing the return of a full Boxing Day schedule for the 2026/27 season.
A cherished date in the football calendar, last campaign saw just one game played, which saw Manchester United beat Newcastle 1-0.
Manchester United fans at Old Trafford2
Premier League fans can get excited for the return of Boxing Day fixtures
It was the fewest amount of games to take place on December 26 in Premier League history.
Not since 1982 had there been less matches on Boxing Day, and that was only because there were none that year.
However, in an early announcement, there will now be seven Premier League games on December 26.
What are the Boxing Day games?
The festivities will begin with Aston Villa hosting Leeds in the lunchtime kick-off at 12.30pm.
There will then be four 3pm games: Everton vs Sunderland, Fulham vs Brighton, Ipswich vs Brentford and Tottenham vs Bournemouth.
Hull will host Liverpool in the 5.30pm game before the day concludes with Newcastle vs Manchester City at 8pm.
The remaining fixtures in Gameweek 17 will take place on December 27.
Chelsea visit Coventry at 2pm, Nottingham Forest head to Manchester United at 4.30pm and Crystal Palace welcome Arsenal at 7pm.
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Why was there just one Boxing Day game played in 2025?
The traditional set of Boxing Day fixtures in 2025 were abandoned due to expansion of UEFA competitions, while FA Cup matches were moved to take place on weekends.
But with Boxing Day this year to fall on a Saturday, the Premier League are able to broadcast a full set of fixtures.
Stamford Bridge.2
Boxing Day football is a tradition unlike any other
Fans were left furious by the scrapping of Boxing Day games last year, with the Premier League announcing in November 2025 that they would return to the calendar this term.
And on Thursday, they announced their rundown of Boxing Day games - more than a month earlier than they did last year.
The decision to go early has reportedly been due to pressure from clubs to allow fans to be given more time to plan, which will minimise any disruption.
Meanwhile, the Football Supporters Association have been in talks with those involved for the clashes to be announced sooner rather than later.
Gameweek 17 has subsequently been amended before any games dating from November onwards.