The Scottish Premiership is set to launch its new campaign with plenty of excitement, and fans can expect every match from the opening weekend to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The kickoff will begin with Rangers travelling to face Dundee United on Friday night and will conclude with Celtic taking on Dundee on the following Monday. After a dramatic conclusion to last season—where Celtic secured the championship on the final day against Hearts—the league enters a fresh era marked by new managerial appointments, player movements, revised regulations, and a host of other developments. To help supporters navigate the upcoming fixtures, here is an A‑Z guide covering everything that’s different or noteworthy for this season.
A – Artificial Surfaces: Only one synthetic pitch remains in the top flight. Kilmarnock have returned to a natural grass surface at Rugby Park, and Livingston’s relegation means the Falkirk Stadium now hosts the sole remaining astroturf field in the Premiership. B – Broken Hearts: The heartbreak of missing out on a first top‑flight title in 66 years last season has led to a significant squad overhaul. Captain Lawrence Shankland left for Rangers despite being under a three‑year contract, head coach Derek McInnes also departed, and influential midfielder Cammy Devlin followed suit, rejecting a new deal at Tynecastle and joining Ibrox.
C – Captains: Several clubs will see new leaders on the pitch. Aberdeen, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Rangers and St Mirren have all appointed different players as captains after the exits of Graeme Shinnie, Lawrence Shankland, Brad Lyons, James Tavernier and Mark O'Hara respectively. D – Deadline Day: The Scottish transfer window shuts on 3 September at 17:00, two days later than the English Premier League deadline.
This gives clubs a little extra breathing room to finalize deals, so supporters need not panic if their team appears quiet in the market. E – European Ambitions: Five Scottish clubs entered the European qualifying rounds this summer, but this season the focus shifts to securing the top four league positions.
Scotland’s UEFA coefficient has slipped, meaning the league is likely to lose one of its usual Europa spots, making the race for the upper‑hand even fiercer. F – Flag Days: Champions Celtic will once again hoist the league flag when they host Dundee on Monday, while newly promoted St Johnstone will raise the Championship flag at home against Kilmarnock on Sunday, celebrating their return to the top tier. G – Gordon’s Retirement: Goalkeeper Craig Gordon will not feature in the Premiership this year. The 43‑year‑old Hearts legend announced his retirement after Scotland’s exit from the World Cup, ending a career that began 25 years ago.
H – High‑Profile Signing: Celtic have broken their transfer record by acquiring Danish striker Kasper Hogh from Bodø Glimt for a fee of £11 million plus add‑ons. Hogh, an international for Denmark, is expected to fill the void left by Daizen Maeda, who moved to Ipswich Town.
I – International Breaks: Following the World Cup, the international calendar has been condensed. Players will now experience a single, almost three‑week break spanning September and October, rather than three separate windows as in previous years. J – Johansson Arrives: Motherwell have appointed Alfred Johansson as their new manager.
At just 35 years old, Johansson becomes the youngest head coach in the league, taking over from Jens Berthel Askou, who departed for Toulouse. K – Kenobi Connection: Aberdeen’s new left‑back Nesta Guinness‑Walker boasts an unexpected lineage—he is the great‑grandson of Sir Alec Guinness, famed for portraying Obi‑Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars saga. L – Law Changes: New rule tweaks mirror those trialled at the World Cup. VAR can now intervene on second‑yellow‑card incidents, players have a five‑second limit to take throw‑ins and goal‑kicks, substitutes must leave the field within ten seconds, and medical treatment breaks are capped at one minute.
M – McInnes’s Mission: Rangers start the season under a fresh manager for the fifth consecutive year. Derek McInnes faces the daunting task of achieving what his five predecessors could not—capturing the league title. N – New Mascot Hunt: St Johnstone are seeking a replacement for their long‑standing mascot, Brogan the Beagle, after the original Brogan retired after an 11‑year tenure. O – O’Neill’s Return: At 74, Martin O’Neill is back at Celtic for what is technically his fourth spell with the club.
He guided Celtic to a league‑and‑cup double last season after taking over from Brendan Rodgers and later Wilfried Nancy. P – Promoted Side: St Johnstone have earned promotion back to the Premiership after a single season away, becoming the sole newly promoted club after St Mirren secured a play‑off victory over Partick Thistle in May. Q – Questionable Cuts: Falkirk’s League Cup trialist David Ninkovic may be in for a haircut—both literal and figurative—after a series of questionable hairstyle choices caught fans’ attention. R – Robinson’s Rebuild: Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson embarks on his first full season at Pittodrie, while former Scotland captain and Sky Sports pundit Rachel Corsie joins the club’s board of directors, signalling a broader strategic overhaul.
S – Six‑Game Broadcast: All twelve clubs will have their opening‑weekend fixtures aired live on Sky Sports, meaning six matches will be shown across the weekend—a first in the competition’s history. T – Transfer Activity: Over 80 new players have already joined the twelve Premiership squads, and with the window remaining open for another month, further signings are likely. U – Ultras: Every Premiership club now boasts an organized ultras group, aiming to amplify atmosphere, passion, and vocal support throughout the season.
V – Vrancken’s Appointment: Hearts have named Wouter Vrancken as their new manager, succeeding Derek McInnes. Vrancken, who was Belgian Manager of the Year last season and narrowly missed a league title with Genk in 2023, is tasked with reigniting Hearts’ title ambitions. W – World Cup Aftermath: The Premiership kicks off just twelve days after the World Cup final.
While Spain’s victorious squad featured no Scottish‑based players, two Spaniards—Unax Álvarez at St Johnstone and Samuel Ramos at St Mirren—have joined the league. X – Experience: Motherwell captain Paul McGinn, at 35, becomes the oldest player in the division, matching the age of his manager Alfred Johansson—a quirky coincidence that adds a touch of experience to the squad. Y – Years Since Non‑Old‑Firm Triumph: It has been 41 years since a club outside the Old Firm claimed the league title. Hearts came close last season; this year will reveal whether they or another challenger can finally break the duopoly.
Z – Zero Unbroadcast Games: Every Premiership match this weekend will be televised on Sky Sports, meaning there will be zero games left unseen. The action begins at Tannadice on Friday night as Rangers face Dundee United. Fans can also stream the Premiership via NOW, ensuring they never miss a moment of the drama, goals, and storylines that define Scottish football. The season promises fresh narratives, fierce competition, and plenty of reasons to tune in week after week.