Coventry play champions Arsenal in Premier League opener

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Coventry City won the Championship last season By Paul Battison BBC Sport journalist Published 9 minutes ago Newly promoted Coventry City will travel to champions Arsenal in the first match of the 2026-27 Premier League season. The season's curtain raiser on Friday, 21 August sees the Sky Blues play their first top-flight match in 25 years against the Gunners, who were led to their first Premier League title since 2004 by Mikel Arteta. Hull City, who went up via the play-offs, host Manchester United on Saturday, 22 August while fellow promoted side Ipswich are at home to Sunderland on the same day. Manchester City begin life without Pep Guardiola at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, 23 August, who also start the campaign with a new manager in Marco Rose. Liverpool 's first match under Andoni Iraola, who replaced the sacked Arne Slot after leaving the Cherries, is away at Newcastle on the same day. Chelsea start life under Xabi Alonso away at Fulham on Monday, 24 September, with the Cottagers also still to appoint a new manager after Marco Silva's departure. Find out your club's schedule Follow your club with BBC Sport Published 8 June Get Premier League score updates on your lock screen Published 20 hours ago Full list of Premier League opening-weekend fixtures All times BST Friday, 21 August Arsenal v Coventry (20:00) Saturday, 22 August Hull City v Manchester United (12:30) Everton v Crystal Palace (15:00) Ipswich v Sunderland (15:00) Nottingham Forest v Leeds (15:00) Brentford v Tottenham (17:30) Sunday, 23 August Brighton v Aston Villa (14:00) Manchester City v Bournemouth (14:00) Liverpool v Newcastle (16:30) Monday, 24 August Fulham v Chelsea (20:00) When does the Premier League season start? The new campaign will start on Friday, 21 August - 34 days after the World Cup final in the United States. The Premier League season will end on Sunday, 30 May 2027, with the Champions League final six days later. Both the start and end dates of the 2026-27 season are later than usual as a result of the World Cup. There will be 33 rounds of weekend fixtures next term, with the remaining five taking place midweek. The Premier League has said the schedule will be designed to "avoid domestic competition clashes with Uefa competition dates, wherever possible". A joint-record nine Premier League teams have qualified for European competition next season. Arsenal , Manchester City , Manchester United , Aston Villa and Liverpool will play in the Champions League. Bournemouth , Sunderland and Crystal Palace will feature in the Europa League, with Brighton qualifying for the Conference League. During the Christmas and New Year period, no two rounds of matches will take place within 60 hours of each other in keeping with commitments made to clubs to address congested schedules. Rather than the traditional three two-week international breaks during the opening months of the season, there will now be two. September and October