2026-27 UEFA Champions League Schedule: Complete Fixtures and Dates

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League season is set to kick off with the league phase starting the first full week of September. Paris Saint-Germain is on a quest to secure a third consecutive title but faces tough challenges early, including matches against Barcelona and Manchester City. Meanwhile, last season's runners-up, Arsenal, will also face stiff competition, drawing heavyweights such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund.

League Phase Format and Progression

The league phase involves 36 teams playing eight matches each. The top eight clubs in the standings earn direct passage to the Round of 16, bypassing the playoff round. Teams ranked 9th through 16th enter the knockout-playoff round, where they are seeded to face opponents finishing between 17th and 24th. Clubs placed 25th to 36th are eliminated from European contests and cannot move to the Europa League or Conference League.

The eight winners from the knockout playoffs join the top eight teams in the Round of 16. A draw then sets the bracket for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, which will decide the champion of the 2026-27 campaign.

Schedule of Key Phases

• League Rounds 1-8: Sep 8-10, 2026 to Jan 27, 2027
• Knockout Playoffs: First leg Feb 16-17, 2027; Second leg Feb 23-24, 2027
• Round of 16: First leg Mar 9-10, 2027; Second leg Mar 16-17, 2027
• Quarterfinals: First leg Apr 6-7, 2027; Second leg Apr 13-14, 2027
• Semifinals: First leg Apr 27-28, 2027; Second leg May 4-5, 2027
• Final: June 5, 2027 at Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid

Matchday One Highlights (September 8-10, 2026)

• AEK Athens 1-0 LASK – Allwyn Arena, Sep 8, 18:45 CET
• Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa – Jan Breydel Stadium, Sep 8, 18:45 CET
• Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Villarreal – Signal Iduna Park, Sep 8, 21:00 CET
• Porto 0-2 Manchester City – Estadio do Dragao, Sep 8, 21:00 CET
• Lille 2-3 Real Betis – Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Sep 8, 21:00 CET
• Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan – Santiago Bernabeu, Sep 8, 21:00 CET
• Barcelona vs. Feyenoord – Camp Nou, Sep 9, 18:45 CET
• Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid – Anfield, Sep 9, 21:00 CET
• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Slovan Bratislava – Parc des Princes, Sep 9, 21:00 CET
• Napoli vs. Arsenal – Est. Diego Armando Maradona, Sep 9, 21:00 CET

Other Notable Matchdays

Each matchday features a mix of compelling matchups among Europe’s top clubs. Kickoff times are listed in Central European Time (CET).

• Lens vs. Sporting CP – Stade Bollaert-Delelis
• Arsenal vs. Lille – Emirates Stadium
• Manchester City vs. Paris Saint-Germain – Etihad Stadium
• Galatasaray vs. Barcelona – Rams Park
• Roma vs. Real Madrid – Stadio Olimpico

• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Barcelona – Parc des Princes
• Liverpool vs. Villarreal – Anfield
• Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal – Allianz Arena
• Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig – Santiago Bernabeu

• Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich – Estadio Metropolitano
• Villarreal vs. Paris Saint-Germain – Estadio de la Ceramica
• Fenerbahce vs. Liverpool – Sukru Saracoglu Stadium
• Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Betis – Signal Iduna Park

• Arsenal vs. Borussia Dortmund – Emirates Stadium
• Manchester City vs. Napoli – Etihad Stadium
• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Roma – Parc des Princes
• Sporting CP vs. Manchester United – Estadio Jose Alvalade

• Barcelona vs. Manchester City – Camp Nou
• Aston Villa vs. Paris Saint-Germain – Villa Park
• Arsenal vs. Real Madrid – Emirates Stadium
• Liverpool vs. Porto – Anfield

• Real Madrid vs. LASK – Santiago Bernabeu
• Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich – Old Trafford
• Sporting CP vs. Barcelona – Estadio Jose Alvalade
• Aston Villa vs. Borussia Dortmund – Villa Park

• Arsenal vs. Sabah – Emirates Stadium
• Bayern Munich vs. Real Betis – Allianz Arena
• Manchester City vs. Sporting CP – Etihad Stadium
• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Galatasaray – Parc des Princes

Knockout Stage Details

The knockout playoff draw occurs on January 29, 2027. Seeded teams (9th-16th place) will be drawn against unseeded clubs (17th-24th place). The first legs of the knockout playoffs take place February 16-17, with second legs on February 23-24. The Round of 16 draw happens on February 27, establishing the path through quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.

• Knockout Playoffs: Feb 16-17 & Feb 23-24, 2027
• Round of 16: Mar 9-10 & Mar 16-17, 2027
• Quarterfinals: Apr 6-7 & Apr 13-14, 2027
• Semifinals: Apr 27-28 & May 4-5, 2027
• Final: Jun 5, 2027 at Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid

This season promises intense battles across Europe’s elite clubs as they compete for the prestigious Champions League trophy once again.