The 2026/27 English Football League campaign has officially begun, and the excitement is palpable across all three divisions. This weekend marks the launch of the new season, with every Championship, League One and League Two fixture being broadcast live on Sky Sports, giving fans an unprecedented amount of coverage right from the outset.
One of the most headline‑grabbing changes this summer is the expansion of the Championship play‑offs. Previously limited to the teams finishing third through sixth, the play‑offs now accommodate the clubs placed third to eighth. This adjustment dramatically widens the promotion race, offering two additional clubs a realistic shot at climbing to the Premier League and keeping the league table tightly contested deep into the spring. Among the early favourites for an immediate return to the top flight are West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Hammers are making their first appearance in the second tier in fourteen years, but they have retained the services of manager Nuno Espírito Santo and key forward Jarrod Bowen. Both are well‑versed in Championship football – Nuno guided Wolves to the league title in 2018, while Bowen amassed valuable experience with Hull City before his move to London. Their continuity should help West Ham adapt quickly to the rigours of the division.
Wolves, on the other hand, have taken a bold step by appointing the relatively unknown Portuguese coach César Peixoto in place of Rob Edwards. Peixoto’s first test was a 2‑2 home draw against Blackburn Rovers in the season opener, a result that hinted at the work required to convert potential into points. Meanwhile, Burnley have also embraced change, bringing in Belgian tactician Nicky Hayen, a former manager of Club Brugge and Genk.
Despite the fresh appointment, the Clarets remain a force to be reckoned with, having secured promotion in each of the last two Championship campaigns with point tallies exceeding one hundred. Sky Sports’ data models currently list West Ham and Wolves as the top two promotion candidates, with Burnley sitting in fourth place just behind Middlesbrough. The latter endured a roller‑coaster season last term, spending more weeks in the top two than any other side but ultimately finishing fifth. Their campaign was marred by the infamous Spygate controversy, a semi‑final loss to Southampton, a reinstatement to the final, and a heartbreaking defeat to Hull City via an Oli McBurnie stoppage‑time strike.
Nevertheless, Middlesbrough have entered the transfer window with vigor. Owner Steve Gibson has opened the club’s coffers, securing striker Will Lankshear – who netted the decisive Carabao Cup goal against Wrexham after an impressive 11‑goal season with Oxford – as well as American midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who impressed while on loan at Bristol City.
Southampton, still reeling from the Spygate fallout, have taken steps to stabilise. Although manager Tonda Eckert still faces an FA charge, the club has reinforced the squad with permanent signings Daniel Peretz in goal and striker Cyle Larin, both of whom excelled during their loan spells. The Saints must also contend with a four‑point deduction, but their strong second‑half surge last season suggests they can remain competitive. Other notable managerial moves include Tony Mowbray’s return to Blackburn Rovers after a four‑year hiatus and Watford’s appointment of Alessio Dionisi.
In the lower leagues, Michael Skubala departed Lincoln City for Bristol City, prompting Lincoln to adopt a joint‑manager system with Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw at Sincil Bank. Leicester City have found themselves in League One for only the second time in their history, a decade after their Premier League triumph. Russell Martin, tasked with halting a double relegation, must also win over sceptics after disappointing spells at Southampton and Rangers. He has already bolstered the squad with seasoned professionals such as Liam Cullen, Conor Chaplin and Wes Burns.
Sheffield Wednesday have entered a new era following the end of the Chansiri ownership and the arrival of David Storch as chairman. Henrik Pedersen, who guided the Owls through a difficult 2025/26 season, now has the chance to extract more from a squad built for promotion. Meanwhile, Stockport County have added promising youngster Louie Barry, whose injury‑hit development at the club has shown flashes of brilliance, and welcomed back veteran midfielder Barry Bannan from Millwall.
In the south, Luton Town continue to be strong contenders under Jack Wilshere, building on a solid second‑half run last season. Plymouth Argyle have also impressed, narrowly missing out on the play‑offs despite a consistently high level of performance.
Oxford United made a surprising appointment by naming Aaron Ramsey as manager – his first full‑time role – after Matt Bloomfield’s unexpected departure. Ramsey’s start has been challenging, as a transfer embargo prevents him from adding new players to a side already fighting to regain its footing in League One. Further changes include Daniel Stendel’s return to Barnsley, Martin Drury taking charge at Huddersfield Town, and Jimmy McNulty swapping Rochdale for Stockport following Dave Challinor’s exit.
Bromley, promoted to the EFL for the first time in 2024, have already achieved a rapid ascent by winning League Two and now compete in League One, where they are tipped as relegation favourites but possess the experience to defy expectations under Andy Woodman. York City have re‑entered the EFL after a ten‑year absence, yet their momentum was disrupted when manager Stuart Maynard left just weeks before the season began.
His successor, Scott Lindsey, has struggled to win over supporters, evident from a hostile reception after an early Carabao Cup exit. Rochdale, who earned automatic promotion from the National League, also lost their manager, with Ian Watson arriving from South Shields to take the helm. Salford City, now in their seventh season in League Two, have yet to break the barrier to League One.
After a play‑off final defeat to Notts County, Karl Robinson departed and was replaced by Peter Cklamovski, former Malaysia national team boss. The club has splashed the cash market, signing Macaulay Langstaff and Luke Molyneux, raising hopes that the Gary Neville‑David Beckham‑backed outfit may finally achieve promotion. Other fresh faces include Chris Hogg at Northampton Town, Alex Bruce at Rotherham United, Darrell Clarke at Tranmere Rovers, Lee Grant at Walsall and Hayden Mullins at Newport County.
The season’s opening fixtures feature a Championship clash between Wolves and Blackburn on Friday night, kicking off a marathon of over a thousand live games across the EFL, Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy on Sky Sports. Fans can catch free highlights on the Sky Sports app after each round, and enjoy in‑depth analysis through the Essential EFL podcast and The EFL Show on Sky Sports News, which airs every Monday at 2 pm.
The launch weekend also includes a Super 6 competition with a £1 million prize, open for free entry.