Seven Premier League games scheduled for Boxing Day
September 10, 2026 14:40
The Premier League has set a seven-match programme for Boxing Day this season after publishing its festive fixtures. Four matches will kick off at 15:00 GMT, with the remaining three scheduled for 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.
The 26 December block is markedly larger than a year ago, when only one game was played on Boxing Day.
KEY CONTEXT
- The 26 December fixtures fall on a Saturday in 2026. The wider festive programme includes three matches on Sunday 27 December and further rounds spread through to Thursday 7 January.
- Evening midweek matches are planned for 29–30 December. New Year’s Day features a single match: Leeds v Everton at 20:00, with the rest of that round pushed into the weekend of 2–3 January. A fourth round of games is scheduled across the evenings of 5–7 January.
- The league has moved the timing of its Christmas/New Year fixture announcements forward after consulting broadcast partners, the Football Supporters’ Association and club Fan Advisory Boards.
- Television selections have been published up to Monday 2 November; selections for the remaining fixtures in November and December are due to be released in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October.
WHY IT MATTERS
The expanded Boxing Day lineup represents a step back toward a busier festive programme compared with last year. At the same time, the Premier League has imposed a minimum 60-hour interval between matches for clubs over the holiday period to respond to concerns about fixture congestion linked to the expanded European and international calendars. These scheduling choices affect broadcasters, clubs and supporters planning travel and viewing over the holidays.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- The league will publish the remaining broadcast selections for November and December in the weeks beginning 21 September and 19 October; those announcements will finalise TV slots for many festive fixtures.
- Clubs and supporters will be monitoring the application of the guaranteed 60-hour minimum between games across the full festive schedule.
KEY FACTS
- Seven Premier League matches are scheduled for Boxing Day 2026.
- Kick-off times on 26 December: four at 15:00 GMT, one at 12:30, one at 17:30 and one at 20:00.
- Only one Premier League match was played on Boxing Day in 2025.
- Television selections announced up to 2 November; further selections due in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October.
- The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period.