The Premier League announced seven Boxing Day fixtures for 2026, released the schedule on 10 September 2026, and confirmed match times across GMT slots.
The Boxing Day fixtures will be played on Saturday, 26 December 2026, and include matches at 12:30, 15:00, 17:30 and 20:00 GMT slots, according to the official fixture list.
Seven Boxing Day matches represent a significant increase from the single match held on Boxing Day 2025, when only one game took place, and reflect the league’s expanded Christmas and New Year schedule that runs through to 7 January 2027.
The full programme spans multiple days and includes fixtures across the weekend of 2‑3 January, with additional evening games on 5‑7 January, providing a dense but staggered festive calendar.
This year’s schedule was confirmed on 10 September 2026, earlier than in previous seasons, as the Premier League responded to broadcaster and fan consultation, aiming to reduce last‑minute changes and support travel planning.
Television scheduling for the festive round will be announced in stages, with live broadcast selections for match rounds 17 to 20 due to be confirmed by the week commencing 21 September and the remaining December rounds by the week commencing 19 October.
Clubs will also benefit from a guaranteed minimum 60‑hour break between fixtures, addressing concerns about fixture congestion following recent expansions of European and international calendars.
For supporters, the early release means ticket sales, travel arrangements and hospitality packages can be organised well in advance, reducing uncertainty that previously surrounded the festive fixtures.
While the full list of matches includes teams such as Aston Villa, Leeds, Everton, Fulham, Brighton, Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Hull City, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Brentford, the specific pairings and kick‑off times are subject to later broadcast allocation.
Broadcast partners will select live games from the confirmed slots, with the remaining fixtures to be distributed across the weekend of 2‑3 January and the midweek evenings of 5‑7 January.
This expanded Boxing Day slate reflects the Premier League’s strategy to maximise viewing opportunities and commercial revenue during the holiday period, while also responding to feedback from clubs and supporters about the need for clearer scheduling.
For clubs outside the traditional top‑six, the additional fixtures provide more opportunities for exposure and points accumulation during a high‑profile window.
Fulham, for example, will host a Premier League match on Boxing Day 2026, continuing their participation in the festive schedule despite a congested programme.
Liverpool’s upcoming Boxing Day fixture against Fulham is part of a broader trend of early-season planning that now extends into the holiday period, with both teams preparing for a packed December.
Injury updates from both squads indicate that key players such as Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Fulham’s Tom Cairney may have fitness doubts, but the fixture list itself is confirmed and will proceed as scheduled.
Overall, the Premier League’s decision to schedule seven Boxing Day matches for 2026 represents a historic shift in the density of the festive calendar, driven by strategic planning, stakeholder consultation and the need for greater predictability in the holiday season.
For readers seeking to understand why the trend is trending, the answer lies in the unprecedented scale of the fixture release and its timing, which signals a new era of early, comprehensive scheduling for one of football’s busiest periods.
This development is being closely watched by broadcasters, clubs, and fans alike, as it sets the template for future festive fixtures and influences travel, ticketing and broadcast strategies across the sport.
For further details on the full fixture list and match times, see the official Premier League announcement published on 10 September 2026.
Additional context on how the festive schedule will unfold can be found in the Premier League’s confirmed calendar, which includes matches across December 2026 and January 2027.
For more on the broadcasting arrangements and fan consultation process, refer to the Premier League’s statement on early fixture planning and stakeholder engagement.