The English Premier League (EPL) has announced the official schedule for the 2025/26 season, with matches set to begin on Saturday, August 16, 2025, and conclude on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
In a significant step towards addressing player welfare, the league has revised its traditionally hectic festive fixture schedule. For the first time, no two match rounds will occur within 60 hours of each other, alleviating concerns about the strain of closely packed games. Additionally, no matches will be played on Christmas Eve in 2025, a decision aimed at providing players and fans with a less demanding holiday period.
The statement from the Premier League, titled "Dates for 2025/26 Premier League season confirmed," highlighted key changes:
- The season will span 33 weekends and include five midweek match rounds, ensuring a balanced calendar.
- Players will enjoy 83 days of rest following the end of the 2024/25 season before the new campaign begins.
- The league will conclude ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup call-up period, giving players ample preparation time for the tournament.
The EPL explained, “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 aligns with commitments to ease the traditionally congested Christmas and New Year schedule.”
The league’s approach underscores its commitment to balancing competition intensity with player well-being, a move that has been widely applauded.
Fans can now look forward to another exciting season while marking these key dates as the countdown begins!
