Adedokun Waliyu 
Arsenal will begin the defence of their Premier League title with a home match against newly promoted Coventry City on August 21.
The fixtures for the 2026–27 Premier League season were released on Friday, with Frank Lampard’s Coventry returning to the top flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship last season.
Liverpool, under new manager Andoni Iraola, will begin their league campaign away to Newcastle on August 23.
Manchester City will start the post-Pep Guardiola era at home against Bournemouth on August 23. Guardiola stepped down at the end of last season after 10 years in charge, with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca widely expected to succeed him.
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso will begin his tenure with a West London derby away to Fulham on August 24.
Hull City, promoted through the Championship play-offs, return to the Premier League with a home fixture against Manchester United on August 22, while Ipswich Town host fellow promoted side Sunderland.
Elsewhere during the opening weekend, Europa League winners Aston Villa travel to Brighton, Brentford host Tottenham Hotspur, Everton welcome Crystal Palace, and Leeds United visit Nottingham Forest.
After their opening match, Arsenal face a demanding run of fixtures. Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Aston Villa before hosting Chelsea on September 5, followed by away matches against Sunderland and Brighton.
The first Manchester derby of the season will take place on the weekend of September 12.
Liverpool will host Manchester United on November 21, while Arsenal’s first meeting with Manchester City is scheduled for November 28 at the Emirates Stadium.
The first Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool will also be played on November 28 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi will experience his first North London derby on December 5 when Spurs host Arsenal.
One of the standout Boxing Day fixtures will see Coventry manager Frank Lampard face his former club Chelsea.
Liverpool travel to Manchester United on January 23, while Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium a week later.
The Premier League season will conclude on May 30. Arsenal will host Brighton, Manchester City travel to Sunderland, Liverpool welcome Bournemouth, Chelsea face Brentford, and Manchester United host Fulham.
The 2026–27 season will begin later than usual because of the FIFA World Cup, which ends just 34 days before the Premier League campaign starts.
Before the league season begins, Arsenal will meet FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season
