Sky Bet Championship 2025/26 Season Schedule Unveiled
Anticipation is building across England as the full fixture list for the 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship season has been officially released. The schedule, detailing the 46-game campaign for the 24 competing clubs, sets the stage for a thrilling battle for promotion to the Premier League and survival in the demanding second tier of English football. The season is poised to commence on Friday, August 8, with a highly anticipated clash between newly promoted Birmingham City and recently relegated Ipswich Town.
Opening Night Spectacle at St Andrew’s
The honour of kicking off the new Championship campaign falls to Birmingham City, who will host Ipswich Town at St Andrew’s for an 8 pm BST start on Friday, August 8. This opening fixture holds particular intrigue, pitting a side fresh from promotion against a club returning from the top flight. Birmingham City enters the season on a high after a dominant performance in the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season, where they clinched the title with an impressive 111 points. Their opponents, Ipswich Town, faced the disappointment of relegation from the Premier League after a single season, and will be aiming for an immediate return.
The season opener at St Andrew’s is confirmed to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering fans nationwide the chance to witness the very first competitive kicks of the 2025/26 EFL season.
The Buzz of the Opening Weekend
The excitement continues into Saturday, August 9, with a packed schedule featuring several prominent fixtures, many of which will also be shown live. A significant early kick-off sees Southampton, another club relegated from the Premier League, hosting Wrexham at 12:30 pm. This match marks a historic occasion for the Welsh club, as it represents their first second-tier match since 1982, completing a remarkable ascent through the leagues.
Also kicking off at 12:30 pm on Saturday are two other notable encounters, both scheduled for live broadcast on Sky Sports. Charlton Athletic will take on Watford, while Frank Lampard’s Coventry City will face Hull City. The clustered early kick-offs on Saturday promise a busy start to the day for football fans following the Championship.
Adding further depth to the Saturday schedule, six additional fixtures are slated for the traditional 3 pm kick-off time. These matches will be accessible to viewers via the Sky Sports+ platform, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the league.
The Saturday action concludes with a late afternoon fixture at 5:30 pm, as Bristol City travels to face fellow relegated side Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. This match, pitting two teams looking to bounce back from Premier League disappointment, will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Sunday’s Curtain Raiser
The opening weekend’s programme concludes on Sunday, August 10. The final match of the initial set of fixtures sees the third relegated Premier League side, Leicester City, host Sheffield Wednesday at 4:30 pm. This encounter will provide another focal point for fans, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Carabao Cup and Season-Long Coverage
In addition to the league fixtures, the draw for the first round of the Carabao Cup has also been conducted. These initial knockout matches are scheduled to be played during the week commencing August 11, offering clubs a quick turnaround from the league opener.
Sky Sports has reaffirmed its commitment to comprehensive coverage of the English Football League. The broadcaster has announced plans to show every EFL game across the opening weekend live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports+. Furthermore, Sky Sports will provide extensive coverage throughout the 2025/26 season, planning to broadcast over 1,000 matches in total from the EFL, the Carabao Cup, and the Vertu Trophy, offering fans unprecedented access to competitive football outside the top flight.
Adding to the fresh feel of the new campaign, the official PUMA Orbita Ultimate Sky Bet EFL ball for the 2025/26 season has also been officially launched, ready for use in all competitive fixtures.
The release of the fixture list marks a key milestone in the build-up to the new season, allowing clubs and fans alike to begin plotting their campaigns and anticipate the key dates and clashes that lie ahead.
