LONDON (AP) — Arsenal will begin its title defense at home against , kicking off the league’s 2026-27 season on Aug. 21.
Manchester City, in its first season in 10 years as manager, will host Bournemouth in its opener, and Manchester United will visit promoted Hull. Liverpool plays at Newcastle.
The season’s fixtures were released by the league on Friday.
Chelsea and visit Fulham in a west London derby on Aug. 24 that concludes the opening round of fixtures.
After facing Coventry, Mikel Arteta’s team visits Aston Villa and then hosts Chelsea as it looks to repeat as champion after winning its last season.
, Liverpool’s new manager, will get his first taste of the Merseyside derby on Nov. 28 at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Man United’s second game of the season is also against a promoted team — Ipswich — this one at Old Trafford with starting a two-year contract.
The first Manchester derby is scheduled for Sept. 12 at Old Trafford. United visits Anfield on Nov. 21.
The season starts one week later than the 2025-26 campaign, to allow for player recovery following the .
The final round will be played on Sunday, May 30 — six days before the Champions League final on June 5 in Madrid.
Frank Lampard, the Chelsea great who coaches Coventry, welcomes his old team to Coventry Building Society Arena on Boxing Day, Dec. 26.
Ipswich opens its campaign at home against Sunderland. Ipswich is looking for a new coach after just over a week ago despite leading the club to promotion.
Man City is also without a manager but is reportedly eying Enzo Maresca, the former Chelsea coach who was assistant to Guardiola at City in its treble-winning season of 2022-23.
The season’s curtain-raising Community Shield between league champion Arsenal and FA Cup winner Man City will be on Aug. 16 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
___
AP soccer:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.