The Premier League has confirmed a significantly expanded Boxing Day fixture programme for the 2026/27 season, with all ten matches now scheduled for Saturday, 26 December 2026, marking a substantial increase from the previous year when only one game was held.
According to the league's official fixture release, the Boxing Day slate will be spread across multiple kickoff times throughout the day rather than concentrated in a single slot. This expansion reflects the league's commitment to restoring the traditional festive fixture list after years of reduced scheduling.
The ten matches scheduled for Boxing Day are: Aston Villa versus Leeds United, Coventry City versus Chelsea, Crystal Palace versus Arsenal, Everton versus Sunderland, Fulham versus Brighton, Hull City versus Liverpool, Ipswich Town versus Brentford, Manchester United versus Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United versus Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur versus Bournemouth.
The decision to stage all Boxing Day fixtures on a single day comes as the league aims to manage player workload across a congested calendar shaped by the expansion of European club competitions and international fixtures. The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between matches during the festive period to address concerns about fixture congestion.
Why has Boxing Day scheduling changed?
The expansion of the Boxing Day programme represents a reversal of recent trends that saw minimal top-flight action on 26 December. Clubs and supporters have pushed back against reduced festive scheduling, with the previous season featuring only a single match on Boxing Day. The return to a full slate reflects both supporter demand for traditional festive football and the league's broader efforts to balance fixture scheduling across an increasingly crowded calendar.
What is the wider festive schedule?
Beyond Boxing Day, the Premier League's festive programme extends across several weeks. Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, with a round of evening midweek fixtures staged on 29 and 30 December. Leeds will host Everton at 20:00 on New Year's Day for the only match scheduled on that date. The remainder of that round will be held over the weekend of 2 and 3 January, with the fourth round of games spread across the evenings of 5, 6, and 7 January.
The fixture scheduling has been coordinated following consultation with broadcast partners and the Football Supporters' Association, along with representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards. Television scheduling for Premier League fixtures has been announced up to Monday, 2 November, with broadcast selections for remaining games in November and December to be announced in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.
How does this reflect broader calendar pressures?
The Premier League's approach to festive scheduling demonstrates the league's response to structural pressures on the football calendar. The expansion of European club competitions and international commitments has created significant challenges for fixture scheduling, requiring the league to carefully balance player welfare with supporter expectations and broadcast requirements. The guaranteed 60-hour minimum break between fixtures during the festive period is a direct response to these pressures, ensuring players receive adequate recovery time despite the compressed schedule.
Key Facts
- All ten Boxing Day matches are scheduled for Saturday, 26 December 2026, across multiple kickoff times
- This represents a major expansion from the 2025/26 season, which featured only one Boxing Day fixture
- The Premier League has guaranteed a minimum 60-hour break between fixtures during the festive period
- The wider festive schedule extends from Boxing Day through 7 January, with matches also scheduled for New Year's Day
- Fixture scheduling was coordinated with broadcast partners and supporter representatives to balance competing interests
