The English Premier League has announced the schedule for the 2025/26 season. The new season will begin on Saturday, August 16, 2025, and end on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
In a statement released late Friday, the league highlighted changes to the festive fixture schedule aimed at improving player welfare. For the first time, no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours of each other. Additionally, there will be no matches on Christmas Eve in 2025.
“The schedule continues to allow more rest time for players over the festive match-round period, with no two rounds taking place within 60 hours of each other. This is in keeping with commitments made to clubs to address the congested Christmas and New Year schedule,” the statement read.
The season will span 33 weekends and five midweek match rounds. Players will have 83 days of rest after the 2024/25 season before the campaign begins. The final matchday is scheduled to give players time to prepare for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
Fans and players alike are expected to welcome these changes as the league works to balance excitement and player well-being.
“The 2025/26 season will consist of 33 weekends and five midweek match rounds. The start date of August 16 allows for the maximum player rest time available—83 clear days—from the end of the 2024/25 season. The season end date of May 24, 2026, ensures the Premier League season finishes ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup call-up period. There will be no fixture on December 24, 2025,” the league concluded.
