Premier League schedules seven Boxing Day fixtures — SkimNews
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- The Premier League announced seven Boxing Day fixtures for Saturday, December 26, 2026, with four matches at 15:00 GMT and additional games at 12:30, 17:30, and 20:00.
- Boxing Day 2026 marks a significant expansion from last year, when only one match was held; headliners include Newcastle v Manchester City at 20:00 and Hull v Liverpool at 17:30.
- Three Sunday matches on December 27 feature Coventry v Chelsea, Manchester Utd v Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace v Arsenal at 19:00.
- Midweek evening fixtures are scheduled for December 29-30, with Leeds v Everton at 20:00 the lone New Year's Day match and the rest of that round spread across January 2-3.
- Clubs are guaranteed at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period, addressing congestion concerns tied to expanded European and international calendars.
- The announcement was brought forward after consultation with broadcast partners, the Football Supporters' Association, and club Fan Advisory Boards, with TV selections confirmed only through November 2.
- A fourth round of fixtures will be staged across the evenings of January 5-7, 2027, completing the festive programme.
Why it matters: Boxing Day jumps from one match to seven, giving fans a packed return to traditional festive football after a lean 2025 — and the guaranteed 60-hour rest window signals the league is actively managing player workload amid a denser European and international calendar.
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