Champions League 2026/27 schedule: full fixture dates and matchdays

The Champions League 2026/27 schedule is now confirmed. Following the league phase draw held in Nyon on Thursday 27 August 2026, UEFA has published every club's opponents and the dates for all eight matchdays. In this article you'll find the full league-phase schedule, when the biggest clubs play, the must-watch fixtures of the season, and the key dates on the road to the final, staged on Saturday 5 June 2027 at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.

Whether you're a Premier League fan tracking Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa, or a neutral planning a matchday trip, here's everything you need in one place.

The full league-phase schedule

The Champions League keeps its 36-team format with a single league phase. Every club plays 8 matches, four at home and four away, against eight different opponents. When the eight matchdays are done, the top eight go straight to the round of 16; teams finishing 9th to 24th contest a knockout play-off; anyone 25th or lower is eliminated.

The eight matchdays run from September 2026 to late January 2027:

As usual, the final matchday is played simultaneously, with every game kicking off at the same time to keep the closing table fair.

A note on kick-off times. The exact time of each match (17:45 or 20:00 UK time, with possible early or late slots) is set by UEFA to suit broadcasters and can change. Before booking a trip, always confirm the final date and kick-off time on the official match page.

When the big clubs play

Five English clubs made the league phase, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, alongside Europe's usual heavyweights. Here are the drawn opponents for the marquee sides. The matchday order and home/away split for each fixture are available on the official site and club pages.

Liverpool

Liverpool were drawn against: Inter, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Porto, Club Brugge, Fenerbahçe, LASK and Lens. Two European giants in Inter and Atlético headline a demanding run that also includes a tricky trip to Turkey to face Fenerbahçe.

Arsenal

Arsenal face: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Slavia Prague and Sabah. It's a heavyweight draw, Real Madrid and Bayern on the same card, with the Emirates set to host some of the biggest names in the competition.

Manchester City

City's eight opponents are: Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Napoli, Porto, Sporting CP, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens. The pick of the ties are the clash with PSG and the trip to face Barcelona, two contenders City could meet again in the spring.

Manchester United

United were paired with: Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, Roma, Villarreal, Sporting CP, RB Leipzig, Como and Sabah. Bayern and Atlético stand out, while Old Trafford will welcome Roma and newcomers Como across the league phase.

Aston Villa

Villa's opponents are: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Club Brugge, Fenerbahçe, Viking and Slavia Prague. Barcelona and PSG give Villa two blockbuster nights against the very top of the European game.

Real Madrid

The record 15-time winners were drawn against: Inter, Arsenal, RB Leipzig, PSV Eindhoven, AEK Athens, Roma, LASK and Shakhtar Donetsk, with the pick of the ties an all-star meeting with Inter and a Premier League test against Arsenal.

The must-watch fixtures of the league phase

The draw served up several headline clashes to circle in the calendar:

• Manchester City–PSG: a repeat of a modern European classic between two title favourites.
• Liverpool–Inter: the Reds against one of the continent's most decorated sides.
• Arsenal–Real Madrid: the Gunners host the record champions at the Emirates.
• Aston Villa–Barcelona: a marquee night for Villa against the Catalan giants.
• Manchester United–Bayern Munich: two European heavyweights meet at Old Trafford.
• Barcelona–Manchester City: a standout continental fixture on Matchday 6.

Add in the many all-star meetings between Europe's elite, and every matchday from September to January promises a fixture worth travelling for.

Key dates on the road to the final

Once the league phase wraps up at the end of January, the knockout bracket runs from February to June 2027:

The final will be played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, the sixth time the Spanish capital has hosted the showpiece.

How to buy tickets for Champions League matches

There's nothing quite like a European night in the stands. If you want to catch Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal at the Emirates or a marquee away trip across Europe, it pays to plan ahead: demand for the biggest fixtures is high and availability can sell out fast.

On TicketGol you'll find matches for the leading clubs on the pages dedicated to the Champions League competition and to each team. For a full walkthrough of how buying works, ticket types and practical tips, see our guide on how to buy Champions League tickets.

You can start from Liverpool tickets, Arsenal tickets, Manchester City tickets, Manchester United tickets and Real Madrid tickets, or search by stadium such as Anfield or the Emirates Stadium.

Check ticket availability for Champions League matches on TicketGol so you're ready the moment the confirmed dates land.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026/27 Champions League schedule out? The schedule was confirmed after the league phase draw in Nyon on Thursday 27 August 2026. In the days that followed, UEFA published every club's opponents and the dates for all eight matchdays, running from September 2026 to January 2027.

When does the 2026/27 Champions League start? The league phase kicks off on Matchday 1, scheduled for 8–10 September 2026. It then runs at regular intervals through to the eighth and final matchday on 27 January 2027, when all games are played at the same time.

How many matches does each team play in the league phase? Each team plays 8 matches in the league phase, four at home and four away, against eight different opponents. The top eight advance straight to the round of 16, teams 9th to 24th enter the play-offs, and 25th or lower are eliminated.

When do the Premier League clubs play in the Champions League? Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all play across the eight matchdays between September 2026 and January 2027, each against their own eight drawn opponents. Exact dates and kick-off times are listed on UEFA's official site and the club pages.

Where and when is the 2027 Champions League final? The 2026/27 Champions League final is played on Saturday 5 June 2027 at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, the sixth time the Spanish capital has hosted the final, at the end of a knockout bracket that begins in February 2027.

How do I buy tickets for Champions League matches? You can check availability on the pages for the Champions League competition and individual clubs on TicketGol, starting with the Premier League sides or Real Madrid, or by searching for a specific stadium. It's worth acting early, as tickets for the biggest fixtures go quickly.