The Premier League season came to an end over the weekend and we're already ticking off the days until the 2025/26 campaign kicks off!
More than a month has passed since Leeds United secured their top flight return. A pulsating 2-1 win at Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the season helped the Whites claim the title.
United will be joined in the Premier League by Burnley and Sunderland, who edged out Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final last Saturday. With Liverpool as the reigning champions and several squads eager to topple Arne Slot's side, it's shaping up to be another gripping season.
The action is set to commence on Saturday, 16 August, a mere 81 days after the curtain fell on the 2024/25 season. The TV schedule for the opening weekend will be announced in the run-up to the big kick-off, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The season's finale is slated for Sunday, 24 May 2026. There'll be 33 weekend clashes and five midweek rounds of matches, with Christmas Eve remaining fixture-free.
To ensure players get enough rest during the festive period, no match rounds will be scheduled within 60 hours of each other. The season's end is conveniently timed before the 2026 World Cup call-up period.
Fixture release day is just around the corner. Mark Wednesday, 18 June in your calendars, when all 380 matches will be unveiled at 9am.
Next season will see more games broadcasted on TV due to new regulations. Sky has confirmed it will air 215 Premier League matches every season from 2025/26, including all 10 fixtures on the final day.
TNT has secured the rights to broadcast a minimum of 52 matches per season, while Amazon won't be airing any top-tier football.
Every Sunday kick-off at 2pm will be televised as part of an unprecedented £6.7bn domestic television deal.
"The outcome of this process underlines the strength of the Premier League and is testament to our clubs, players and managers who continue to deliver the world's most competitive football in full stadiums, and to supporters, who create an unrivalled atmosphere every week," said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
There will also be an earlier-than-usual transfer window ahead of the Club World Cup. A shortened window runs from Sunday, June 1 to Tuesday, June 10.
The window will then reopen on Monday, June 16 until deadline day on Monday, September 1. Notably, this summer's transfer window will close four hours earlier at 7pm, rather than the customary 11pm deadline.
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