Nottingham Forest will have the opportunity to test themselves in Europe for the first time in three decades next season when they compete in the UEFA Conference League.
Although a place in the Champions League was the dream for the Reds, European qualification of any form still represents huge progress for the club. Not since the 1995/96 campaign, when they reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals under Frank Clark, have Forest enjoyed a continental adventure.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis knows what it takes to triumph in the Europa Conference League, having done so with Olympiacos in 2024. Should the Reds tread the same path, the Greek would become the first owner to win the tournament with two different clubs.
Forest fans do not have long to wait before they can start digging out their passports. Here is Sarah Clapson's lowdown on the competition...
What stage will Forest enter the Conference League?
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will enter the Conference League qualifiers at the play-offs stage. To make it through to the league phase, they face a two-legged tie.
The first leg will be played on Thursday, August 21, with the second leg a week later on Thursday, August 28. Forest will discover their opponents when the draw for the play-off round takes place on Monday, August 4.
When will the league phase matches take place?
The league phase begins in October and wraps up in December. UEFA point out that dates are subject to change, but below is how the league phase of the tournament is scheduled to pan out.
Matchday 1: 2 October 2025
Matchday 2: 23 October 2025
Matchday 3: 6 November 2025
Matchday 4: 27 November 2025
Matchday 5: 11 December 2025
Matchday 6: 18 December 2025
What about the knockout phase?
If Forest make it through the league phase of the competition, that is when things really start to get interesting. The knockout rounds begin in February.
Knockout phase play-offs: 19 and 26 February 2026
Round of 16: 12 and 19 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 9 and 16 April 2026
Semi-finals: 30 April and 7 May 2026
Final: 27 May 2026
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When do the draws for each round take place?
League phase: 29 August 2025
Knockout phase play-offs: TBC
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final: 27 February 2026
Where will the final be held?
The showpiece final will take place at the RB Arena in Leipzig next year on Wednesday, May 27. Will Forest be there?
Some fans have already taken to social media to report they have booked accommodation in Leipzig. Snapping up a hotel room for a reasonable price, with the option to cancel later if necessary, in a bid to avoid paying over the odds later on seems to be the aim.
The stadium holds 47,000 supporters. It staged five games at the 2006 World Cup and four Euro 2024 matches. The winners of the final qualify for the league phase of the 2026/27 Europa League, if they have not done so via their domestic competition.
What have Forest said about competing in the Conference League?
“It is going to be a new challenge for the club,” Nuno said after the final-day defeat to Chelsea. “There is improvement to be made, but now is a totally different reality for us to face. It is going to be very demanding and challenging.”
Skipper Ryan Yates told The Mirror: “We were saying that in the dressing room, we have to always look at the positive. The teams aren't going to be as strong in that competition. It's another chance to win silverware.
“We'd like to think that we can go even further in that competition. Hopefully, it can be a blessing in disguise for us.”
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