EFL schedule confirmed for 2025/26 campaign

A general view of LNER Stadium, home of Lincoln City.

The EFL have confirmed key dates for the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.  

Fixture release day takes place on Thursday 26 June, with fixtures released at 12pm. 

Every Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two team will find out their schedule for the new campaign. 

The new season will kick off over the weekends of 1-3 August in League One and League Two and 8-10 August in the Championship.  

The scheduled 46 rounds of League matches will take place across 33 weekends, nine midweeks and four bank holidays in the Championship, with Leagues One and Two playing over 33 weekends, five midweeks and eight bank holidays and international breaks. 

The Carabao Cup will begin in mid-August, with the Vertu Trophy getting under way in early September.  

EFL key dates 2025/26 

Fixture release date 

Thursday 26 June 2025 at 12(noon)

EFL opening weekends 

League One and League Two: Friday 1 August – Sunday 3 August 

Championship: Friday 8 August – Sunday 10 August 

Final games of the regular season 

Weekend of 2/3 May 2026 

Carabao Cup 

Round one draw – Thursday 26 June 2025 at 4:30pm

Round one – w/c 11 August 2025 

Final – Sunday 22 March 2026 

Vertu Trophy 

Group stage draw – Thursday 26 June 2025 at 2:30pm

Matchday one – w/c 1 September 2025 

Final – Sunday 12 April 2026 

Play-off finals 

Championship play-off final – Saturday 23 May 2026 

League One play-off final – Sunday 24 May 2026 

League Two play-off final – Monday 25 May 2026