As Conference League winners, **Palace qualify for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League**, the second-tier European club competition.
Once more, the Eagles will avoid the qualifying rounds and go directly into the league phase of the tournament.
The 36-team league phase is similar to the format used in the Conference League. However, there is one significant difference.
In the league phase of the Europa League, each side plays eight games rather six, meaning two extra matchdays in this round.
The top eight finishers in the league table will progress directly to the Round of 16. Sides ranking 9th-24th will go into a play-off round, where the eight winners then move onto the last 16.
Sides finishing 25th and below are eliminated.
The knockout phase of the competition mirrors the Conference League.
All knockout ties are contested home and away over two legs, with extra-time, and potentially a penalty shootout, taking place if the score is level on aggregate at the full-time in the second leg.
Away goals are no longer used as a tiebreaker. The final is the only round that is played as a one-off tie at a neutral venue.
So, the first date for your diary. The 2026/27 Europa League Final will take place at Waldstadion in Frankfurt, Germany on **Wednesday, 26th May 2027.**
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's give you the initial matchdays for the league phase games which Palace will feature in. Please note exact dates and kick-off times are still subject to confirmation.
The draw for this round will take place on the final Friday in August. This will confirm Palace's eight league phase opponents, as well as which four fixtures will be at home and which four will be away.
* Draw for the Europa League league phase: **Friday, 28th August 2026**
* League phase matchday 1: **Wednesday, 16th / Thursday, 17th September 2026**
* League phase matchday 2: **Thursday, 15th October 2026**
* League phase matchday 3: **Thursday, 22nd October 2026**
* League phase matchday 4: **Thursday, 5th November 2026**
* League phase matchday 5: **Thursday, 26th November 2026**
* League phase matchday 6: **Thursday, 10th December 2026**
* League phase matchday 7: **Thursday, 21st January 2027**
* League phase matchday 8: **Thursday, 28th January 2027**
At the time of writing, the Eagles are one of 13 teams to have a confirmed spot in the 36-team league phase.
AC Milan, Juventus, Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, TSG Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Rennes, AZ Alkmaar and Torreense will all be involved, as well as fellow Premier League sides Sunderland and Bournemouth.
Sides from the same country can't meet in the league phase, so Palace won't face either Sunderland or Bournemouth in that round.
The league phase draw is seeded with each team placed in one of eight pots. They will then be drawn against a team from each pot to make up their league phase schedule of eight matches.
Based on our UEFA coefficient ranking, Palace are likely to be placed in either pot 2, or pot 3. However this could change and will only be confirmed when the final 36-team line-up is known following the qualifying rounds in August.
Due to the Eagles' participation in European football again next season, we will enter the Carabao Cup in the Third Round in September.
The FA Cup isn't impacted by Europe and all 20 Premier League clubs will enter at the Third Round stage in January.
Exact dates of these rounds are to be confirmed in due course.
Our Premier League schedule for 2026/27 will be released on **Friday, 19th June 2026 at 10:00 BST.** Once this is confirmed, our fixture list for next season will begin to take shape.
Games that take place following a Thursday Europa League league phase matchweek are likely to be moved to the Sunday, if originally scheduled for a Saturday.
However, this will be confirmed nearer the date of the fixture by the Premier League.