The Premier League released the 2026-27 fixture list on Friday morning, and our title defence begins under the lights at the Emirates against newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday, August 21, 2026, with an 8pm kickoff live on Sky Sports. It is the first time Coventry have featured in the top flight in 25 years, with Frank Lampard's side returning to the Premier League after winning the Championship.
The opening run
The opening month does not ease us in. After Coventry, we travel to Villa Park on August 29. Unai Emery's side, who qualified for the Champions League last season and won the Europa League, are a tough side to play away and they have cost us points before. Our third fixture, on September 5, brings Xabi Alonso's Chelsea to the Emirates for his first visit to N5 as Chelsea manager.
North London derbies
The first north London derby of the season is at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The return at the Emirates falls on Saturday, May 1, 2027, the first of three home games to close the campaign.
Fixtures against the traditional top six
After Chelsea in week three, our next meeting with a traditional top-six side comes at Anfield on October 31, 2026. The return against Liverpool at the Emirates falls on February 6, 2027.
Manchester City visit the Emirates on November 28, 2026, with the reverse at the Etihad on January 30, 2027. Manchester United come to N5 on December 19, 2026, in a blockbuster festive fixture, with the trip to Old Trafford on February 27, 2027.
Newcastle, who have made life difficult for us at St James' Park in recent seasons, host us on November 21, 2026, with the return at the Emirates on January 23, 2027.
Manchester United — Home Sat Dec 19, 2026 · Away Sat Feb 27, 2027
Manchester City — Home Sat Nov 28, 2026 · Away Sat Jan 30, 2027
Liverpool — Away Sat Oct 31, 2026 · Home Sat Feb 6, 2027
Chelsea — Home Sat Sep 5, 2026 · Away Sat Mar 13, 2027
Tottenham — Away Sat Dec 5, 2026 · Home Sat May 1, 2027
The tough run at the turn of the year
The hardest stretch of the season falls across two weeks in late January and early February. We host Newcastle on January 23, travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City on January 30, and host Liverpool on February 6. Three games against teams that finished in the top five last season, inside fifteen days.
Other tricky fixtures
The Premier League has given us a London-heavy festive period. Nine consecutive league fixtures between November 28 and January 6 are all played in the capital, with every away game in that window against London opposition. The travel grind that has cost us in past Christmases is removed, although the fixture density itself remains punishing.
All three trips to the promoted sides, Coventry, Hull City, and Ipswich Town, fall in the second half of the season. The April visit will be our first ever league trip to the CBS Arena.
Our final-day fixture is at home against Brighton on Sunday, May 30, 2027.
The Community Shield against Manchester City at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday, August 16, 2026, opens our season before the league begins.
Fixtures are subject to change for television coverage and European competition.