Premier League released festive football schedule
The Premier League has announced its festive football schedule for the 2026 season, featuring a significant increase in Boxing Day matches. The league has also guaranteed a minimum 60-hour break between fixtures to address player welfare concerns.
Why it matters
The scheduling reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing commercial broadcast demands with the physical health of players in a congested international calendar.
Image source, Getty Images Published 10 September 2026 The Premier League has announced it will stage seven matches on Boxing Day this year after releasing its festive schedule.
Four fixtures will be staged at 15:00 GMT, with further matches played at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.
The fixture programme for 26 December, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, is considerably bigger than last year, when one game was held.
Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, while three further rounds of games will be held over a period up to Thursday, 7 January.
A round of evening midweek fixtures will staged on 29-30 December, while Leeds will host Everton (20:00) for the only match on New Year's Day.
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