The Premier League schedule for the 2026/27 season begins on 21 August, but clubs are already deep into pre-season with a busy run of July and August fixtures now taking shape.
That summer calendar has already produced a mix of home games, away trips and behind-closed-doors matches, offering an early glimpse of how teams will prepare before the new campaign gets under way.
Early results give the first signs of shape
Several clubs have already banked competitive-looking summer wins. Crystal Palace beat Swindon 5-1 at the Crystal Palace Academy, Brighton beat Wycombe Wanderers 4-1, Everton won 4-0 away at Dundee, and Nott'm Forest beat Notts County 2-0 away.
There was also a 0-0 draw for Coventry away at Northampton Town, while Newcastle beat Darlington 3-0 behind closed doors. Sunderland posted a 5-1 win in York, and Man Utd lost 1-0 to Wrexham in Helsinki.
These early games do not define a season, but they do show how quickly the build-up to 21 August is moving. For clubs, the focus is as much on rhythm, travel and fitness as it is on the scoreline.
More fixtures to come in July and August
The next round of listed matches includes Nott'm Forest against Blackburn in Albufeira on 22 July and Spurs against MK Dons behind closed doors on the same day. Those are the kinds of games that usually tell managers more about readiness than result alone.
With the 2026/27 Premier League campaign set to start on 21 August, the summer programme will continue to give fans the first clues about form, selection and where each club stands physically. The schedule is still in its early stages, but the countdown to the new season is already firmly under way.
