The Premier League has officially released its fixture list for the 2026 Christmas period, with a full round of matches set to take place on Boxing Day for the first time in two years.
Boxing Day 2026 falls on a Saturday, allowing the league to restore a complete programme of games on 26 December, a stark contrast to last season when congestion in the calendar meant only one top-flight fixture was staged on that date, with the majority of festive action instead pushed to 27 December.
Among the standout fixtures on Boxing Day itself is Newcastle United's home clash with reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, which has been given an 8pm kick-off slot. Elsewhere that day, Aston Villa host Leeds in the early fixture, while Liverpool travel to Hull City for a 5.30pm meeting. Tottenham Hotspur welcome Bournemouth, Everton face Sunderland, Fulham take on Brighton, and Ipswich Town host Brentford, all in traditional 3pm slots.
The following day, 27 December, brings a notable subplot as Frank Lampard returns to face his former club when his Coventry City side host Chelsea. That afternoon also sees Manchester United welcome Nottingham Forest, before Crystal Palace host defending champions Arsenal in a 7pm evening fixture.
The festive schedule continues with a busy run of midweek matches on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 December, giving fans a dense run of top-flight action before the year concludes. Fixtures on 29 December include Everton against Manchester City and Tottenham hosting Brighton again, while 30 December features seven matches, among them Aston Villa against Liverpool and Newcastle facing Nottingham Forest.
In contrast to the crowded midweek programme, New Year's Day 2027 will see just a single Premier League fixture, with Leeds United hosting Everton at Elland Road in a Friday night kick-off. The schedule then resumes at full strength on Saturday 2 January, with games including Arsenal against Ipswich, Liverpool versus Coventry, and Bournemouth hosting Aston Villa, before the run of festive fixtures concludes on Sunday 3 January with Chelsea hosting Newcastle and Manchester City facing Tottenham.
The Premier League said it had opted to confirm the selection of televised matches across the Christmas period earlier than usual this year, aiming to give clubs and supporters greater certainty when arranging travel and logistics during one of the busiest stretches of the football calendar. As part of the announcement, the league also confirmed that every club will be guaranteed a minimum rest period of 60 hours between fixtures throughout the festive schedule, addressing longstanding concerns from managers and players about the physical toll of the congested Christmas run.
The return of a full Boxing Day programme is likely to be welcomed by supporters, given the fixture's traditional place in the English football calendar. While recent years have seen its status affected by fixture congestion and calendar quirks, the 2026 schedule restores it as a marquee date, headlined by the eye-catching trip of Manchester City to Newcastle.
With the festive fixtures now locked in, attention will turn to how the season's title race, European qualification battles, and relegation fight shape up heading into what is traditionally one of the most demanding periods of the campaign for players, managers and travelling fans alike.
Based on reporting from The Independent.