The Premier League is bringing Christmas back to the terraces in style. Seven top-flight matches are scheduled for Boxing Day 2026 — a Saturday — after the league released its full festive fixture calendar this week, marking a sharp contrast to 2025, when just one game was staged on the day.

A packed schedule from kick-off to kick-off

Four games will get under way at 15:00 GMT, with Everton hosting Sunderland, Fulham welcoming Brighton, Ipswich facing Brentford and Spurs taking on AFC Bournemouth. The action starts earlier at 12:30 with Aston Villa against Leeds, while Hull host Liverpool in a 17:30 slot and Newcastle round off the day against Manchester City at 20:00.

Three further fixtures follow on Sunday, 27 December: Coventry face Chelsea at 14:00, Manchester United host Nottingham Forest at 16:30, and Crystal Palace take on Arsenal at 19:00.

The full festive run-in

Beyond the Christmas weekend, the Premier League has mapped out four further rounds of games stretching through to Thursday, 7 January. A set of evening midweek matches is scheduled for 29 and 30 December, before Leeds host Everton at 20:00 on New Year's Day — the only fixture on 1 January. The remainder of that round is then spread across the weekend of 2 and 3 January. A final set of matches runs across the evenings of 5, 6 and 7 January, with Manchester United versus Newcastle bringing the festive programme to a close on the Thursday night.

Rest guarantees and early announcement

The league has pledged a minimum 60-hour turnaround between fixtures throughout the period, a concession to the growing pressure on players following the recent expansion of European and international competitions. The early release of the schedule itself is also notable — the Premier League moved forward the announcement after talks with broadcast partners, the Football Supporters' Association and club Fan Advisory Board representatives.

Television selections have already been confirmed up to 2 November, with broadcast picks for the remaining November and December games to follow in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.

Why it matters

Boxing Day football is one of the fixtures that separates English football from most of Europe, and the return of a bumper card will be welcomed by supporters who felt short-changed when only a single match was staged last December. A seven-game slate gives fans across the country the chance to be at their grounds — or glued to their screens — on one of the most traditional days in the football calendar.

The noises out of the Premier League suggest the league is keen to strike a balance between maintaining the festive tradition and protecting player welfare, hence the rest-period guarantee. Whether clubs near the top and bottom of the table welcome the congestion quite so warmly remains to be seen, but for supporters, 26 December 2026 is already one to mark on the calendar.

Frequently asked

How many Premier League games are on Boxing Day 2026?
Seven Premier League matches are scheduled for Boxing Day 2026, kicking off at 12:30, 15:00 (four games), 17:30 and 20:00 GMT.
What is the Premier League fixture on New Year's Day 2026?
The only match on New Year's Day (1 January 2027, given the 2026-27 season) is Leeds hosting Everton at 20:00 GMT.
What rest period are Premier League clubs guaranteed over Christmas?
The Premier League has guaranteed clubs a minimum 60-hour break between fixtures during the festive period to ease player welfare concerns.