The 2026/27 EFL calendar springs to life this week. At 12:00 PM BST on Thursday, 25 June 2026, the fixtures for the Sky Bet Championship, League One, and League Two will be released simultaneously.
Because more than 1,000 EFL matches are broadcast live on Sky Sports each season, kickoff times rarely stay fixed. Wave announcements for TV selections, cup runs, and international breaks mean a printed diary will be out of date by September. The EFL’s official digital calendar, powered by ECAL, solves this by syncing the full schedule directly to your phone and updating dates and times automatically.
Sync the 2026/27 EFL fixtures to your calendar here
🗓️ 2026/27 #EFLFixtureReleaseDay confirmed! ✅
Read more: https://t.co/PE8StT1bz5#EFL pic.twitter.com/N77lb9M0qm
— EFL (@EFL) April 10, 2026
2026/27 EFL Season: Key Dates
- Fixture Release Day: Thursday, 25 June 2026 at 12:00 PM BST (includes Carabao Cup and Vertu Trophy draws)
- Carabao Cup Round One: 7 to 9 August 2026
- EFL Opening Weekend: 14 to 16 August 2026
- Summer Transfer Window Closes: Tuesday, 1 September 2026 at 23:00 BST
- Vertu Trophy Group Stage Begins: Week commencing 21 September 2026
Divisional Changes and Key Storylines
Sky Bet Championship
- Down from the Premier League: West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley
- Up from League One: Lincoln City, Cardiff City, and Bolton Wanderers
- The Storyline: West Ham starts as the clear title favorite, though reported wage-reduction clauses and impending player sales complicate an instant return. Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham AFC remain in the division after a stellar seventh-place finish, setting their sights firmly on the promotion play-offs under Phil Parkinson.
Sky Bet League One
- Down from the Championship: Leicester City headlines the third tier exactly ten years after their historic Premier League triumph. They are joined by Sheffield Wednesday.
- Up from League Two: Bromley, MK Dons, Cambridge United, and Notts County
Sky Bet League Two
- Up from the National League: York City returns to the EFL after a decade away alongside play-off winners Rochdale.
- Down from League One: Rotherham United, Port Vale, Exeter City, and Northampton Town
- Departed: They replace Barrow and Harrogate Town, who have dropped out of the league.
How to Sync Your Calendar
The official digital calendar integrates directly with Apple, Google, and Outlook without downloading a separate app.
- Visit the portal at efl.ecal.com.
- Select either a full division or filter down to your specific club.
- Choose your calendar provider and grant permission to sync.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026/27 EFL fixtures released?
All three divisions will be confirmed at 12:00pm on Thursday 25 June 2026, on efl.com and the official EFL app.
When does the season start?
The Carabao Cup First Round on 7 to 9 August, followed by league football across all three divisions on 14 to 16 August 2026.
How do I sync just my club’s fixtures?
At efl.ecal.com, select your club instead of the full division.
Will my calendar update if a match is moved for TV?
Yes. The synced calendar updates any fixture change caused by broadcast selections, cup runs or international breaks.
Never miss an EFL match. Sync the 2026/27 EFL Fixtures before the drop on 25 June.
