Champions League 2026/27: Dates, Format and Full Calendar
The 2026/27 Champions League will bring Europe’s biggest clubs together for another season of elite football, unforgettable away days and high-stakes knockout ties. The competition starts with qualifying rounds in July 2026 before the 36-team league phase begins in September. The road to the final ends on Saturday 5 June 2027 at Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano. Dates remain subject to change.
Champions League qualifying rounds: July and August 2026
The first stage of the 2026/27 Champions League is the qualifying campaign. Twenty-nine teams qualify directly for the league phase, while seven further places are decided through qualifying rounds and play-offs. Every qualifying tie is played over two legs.
| Round | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|
| First qualifying round | 7–8 July 2026 | 14–15 July 2026 |
| Second qualifying round | 21–22 July 2026 | 28–29 July 2026 |
| Third qualifying round | 4–5 August 2026 | 11 August 2026 |
| Play-offs | 18–19 August 2026 | 25–26 August 2026 |
The league phase draw takes place on Thursday 27 August 2026. This is the key date for supporters planning a Champions League trip, as every club will discover its eight opponents before the individual fixture schedule is confirmed.
The Champions League league phase: September 2026 to January 2027
The league phase replaces the former group stage. All 36 qualified clubs are ranked in one single table, rather than being split into separate groups.
Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents: four at home and four away. Clubs are drawn from four pots of nine teams, with two opponents assigned from each pot, including their own. This format creates more major fixtures from the opening weeks of the campaign and gives fans more opportunities to watch Europe’s biggest teams in action.
| Matchday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 8–10 September 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | 13–14 October 2026 |
| Matchday 3 | 20–21 October 2026 |
| Matchday 4 | 3–4 November 2026 |
| Matchday 5 | 24–25 November 2026 |
| Matchday 6 | 8–9 December 2026 |
| Matchday 7 | 19–20 January 2027 |
| Matchday 8 | 27 January 2027 |
The first eight teams in the final league-phase table qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams ranked from 9th to 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs, while clubs placed from 25th to 36th are eliminated from European competition.
Champions League knockout dates 2027
From February onwards, the competition returns to its classic knockout format. The play-offs, round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals are played over two legs, with the final decided in a single match.
| Round | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|
| Knockout phase play-offs | 16–17 February 2027 | 23–24 February 2027 |
| Round of 16 | 9–10 March 2027 | 16–17 March 2027 |
| Quarter-finals | 6–7 April 2027 | 13–14 April 2027 |
| Semi-finals | 27–28 April 2027 | 4–5 May 2027 |
| Champions League final | Saturday 5 June 2027 | — |
Champions League final 2027 in Madrid
The Champions League final will be played on Saturday 5 June 2027 at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid. Home to Atlético de Madrid, the stadium will host the competition’s showpiece match for the second time, having previously welcomed the 2019 final.
After Budapest hosted the 2026 final, the spanish capital will take centre stage for another defining night in European football. From the drama of the knockout rounds to the anticipation surrounding the final, supporters can follow the season closely and compare Champions League tickets once fixtures and availability are released.
FAQ: Champions League 2026/27
The first qualifying round begins on 7 July 2026. The league phase starts on 8 September 2026.
The league phase draw is scheduled for Thursday 27 August 2026. It will determine each club’s eight opponents and help supporters identify the season’s biggest potential fixtures.
Thirty-six teams compete in a single league table. Each club plays eight league-phase matches: four at home and four away. The top eight progress directly to the round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th enter the play-offs.
The final will take place on Saturday 5 June 2027 at Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano.
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Article updated on June 25th, 2026
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