Champions League 2026-27: UEFA unveils schedule for the biggest clashes

The league phase kicks off on 8 September with several heavyweight fixtures on the programme

Europe Today at 07:54

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Champions League 2026-27: UEFA unveils schedule for the biggest clashes

Two days after the draw, UEFA has released the complete league-phase schedule, with matches running from September 2026 through January 2027.

The 2026-27 Champions League schedule has now been confirmed. Two days after the league-phase draw, UEFA published the dates and venues for all 144 fixtures. The 36 participating clubs will each play eight matches, four at home and four away, between 8 September 2026 and 27 January 2027. The top eight advance directly to the last 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th enter the play-offs.

The opening matchday will immediately deliver several heavyweight encounters. Borussia Dortmund host Villarreal on 8 September, while Manchester City travel to Porto and Real Madrid welcome Inter Milan. One day later, Barcelona face Feyenoord and Liverpool host Atlético Madrid at Anfield.

Major clashes continue into January

The schedule also features Manchester City against PSG on 14 October, followed by PSG–Barcelona and Bayern Munich–Arsenal on 20 October. Atlético host Bayern on 3 November, before Barcelona–Manchester City on 8 December and Dortmund–Inter the following night. January brings Inter–Liverpool and Manchester United–Bayern before Villarreal–Manchester United on the final matchday.

Paris Saint-Germain enter the competition as back-to-back champions. In the 2025-26 final in Budapest, the French club defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The next final will be staged at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium on 5 June 2027.