Qualifying and play-offs
Four qualifying rounds decide the final league-phase places before the draw.
European nights
Champions League 2026/27 Dates
Champions League 2026/27 calendar with qualifying, league phase, knockout rounds, draw dates and the 2027 final in Madrid.
At a glance
Core dates and planning notes
- Competition starts
- July 7, 2026
- League-phase draw
- August 27, 2026
- League phase starts
- September 8-10, 2026
- Final
- Saturday, June 5, 2027 in Madrid
Timeline
Date map
League-phase draw
The 36-team league phase is drawn, setting the autumn and winter schedule.
League phase
Eight matchdays run from early September through late January.
Knockout phase
Play-offs, round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals lead to the Madrid final.
Guide
How this fits the 2026/27 season
The European layer of the football calendar
The Champions League resumes quickly after the domestic restart. For readers following elite players after World Cup 2026, the first league-phase matchday is the earliest major European checkpoint.
League phase dates to save
UEFA lists Matchday 1 for September 8-10, then October 13/14, October 20/21, November 3/4, November 24/25, December 8/9, January 19/20 and January 27.
How to connect it with domestic leagues
Pair these UEFA dates with Premier League broadcast updates and FIFA release windows. That combination explains many rotation, injury-management and TV scheduling changes.
Related calendars
More football calendar pages
Season overview
Football Calendar 2026/27 Key Dates
Scan the dates that shape the club season: league starts, UEFA nights, international windows and cup finals.
Fixture hubPremier League 2026/27 Fixtures
Track the released Premier League fixtures, opening weekend TV picks and schedule-change windows.
Matchweek 1Premier League 2026/27 Opening Weekend
Scan every opening-weekend match, TV pick and first-fixture storyline for the 2026/27 Premier League season.
TV schedulePremier League September TV Fixtures 2026
Track every live UK Premier League TV fixture from late August through the September broadcast window.
TV schedulePremier League October TV Fixtures 2026
Scan the confirmed October and early-November UK TV picks, including Liverpool v Man City and Chelsea v Man United.
UEFA drawChampions League 2026/27 Draw
Check the league-phase draw date, start time, team count, format and fixture-release window.
League phaseChampions League 2026/27 Matchday 1
Track the opening Champions League matchweek dates, three-night format and fixture-release timing.
FIFA windowSeptember International Break 2026
Understand the expanded September-October FIFA window, dates, match limits and club-season impact.
English cupFA Cup 2026/27 Dates
Follow the Emirates FA Cup round dates from August qualifying to the Wembley final.
League CupEFL Cup 2026/27 Dates
Track the Carabao Cup round dates, Premier League entry points and Wembley final.
Club seasonPremier League 2026/27 Calendar
Track the first post-World-Cup Premier League season, from opening weekend to final day.
National teamsInternational Breaks 2026/27 Calendar
Map the FIFA release windows that interrupt the club season after World Cup 2026.
FAQ
Common questions
When does the Champions League 2026/27 league phase start?
The Champions League 2026/27 league phase starts with Matchday 1 on September 8-10, 2026.
When is the Champions League 2027 final?
The 2026/27 Champions League final is scheduled for Saturday, June 5, 2027.
Where is the 2027 Champions League final?
UEFA lists Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid as the venue for the 2027 Champions League final.
Sources checked 2026-08-28
Premier League: 2026/27 season datesPremier League: all 380 fixtures for 2026/27Premier League: 2026/27 fixture schedule releasedUEFA: 2026/27 Champions League datesUEFA: Champions League league-phase drawUEFA: club competition league-phase drawsUEFA: 2026 European football calendarFIFA: men's international match calendar structurePremier League: other competition datesEFL: 2026/27 Carabao Cup round datesThe FA: 2026/27 FA Cup round dates