Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Brighton, Celtic and Hearts have all received the specifics of their upcoming Europa League and Conference League programmes for the current season. The draws for the group stages of both tournaments were conducted on Friday, establishing the fixtures that each club will contest. Teams participating in the Europa League are slated to play a total of eight matches each, while those in the Conference League will feature in six games – each side will host three fixtures at home and travel for three away, with the schedule spanning from September 2026 through to January 2027. This season marks a historic moment for Sunderland, who have qualified for European competition for the first time in 53 years.
Their inaugural European trip will take them to the iconic San Siro stadium, where they will face the storied Italian side AC Milan. Meanwhile, Bournemouth, also making their debut on the continental stage, have been drawn to host AC Milan at their own ground, offering their supporters a chance to see the Italian giants on home soil. Celtic’s itinerary includes a home clash against Olympique de Marseille and an away fixture against Benfica, managed by Marco Silva, as part of their eight‑match Europa League campaign. Crystal Palace, the defending champions of the Conference League, will welcome Spain’s Real Sociedad to Selhurst Park and later travel to France to take on Olympique Lyonnais.
The detailed match calendar for the group phase is as follows: - Matchday 1: 16 – 17 September 2026 - Matchday 2: 15 October 2026 - Matchday 3: 22 October 2026 - Matchday 4: 5 November 2026 - Matchday 5: 26 November 2026 - Matchday 6: 10 December 2026 - Matchday 7: 21 January 2027 - Matchday 8: 28 January 2027 Following the conclusion of the league phase, the knockout stages will commence with play‑off ties on 18 and 25 February 2027. The Round of 16 is scheduled for 11 and 18 March 2027, the quarter‑finals for 8 and 15 April 2027, and the semi‑finals for 29 April and 6 May 2027.
The grand finale of the Europa League will be held on 26 May 2027 at the Stadion Frankfurt in Germany. For the Conference League, the group‑stage dates are: - Matchday 1: 15 October 2026 - Matchday 2: 22 October 2026 - Matchday 3: 5 November 2026 - Matchday 4: 26 November 2026 - Matchday 5: 10 December 2026 - Matchday 6: 17 December 2026 The subsequent knockout‑phase schedule mirrors that of the Europa League, with play‑off legs on 18 and 25 February 2027, Round of 16 fixtures on 11 and 18 March 2027, quarter‑finals on 8 and 15 April 2027, semi‑finals on 29 April and 6 May 2027, and the final set for 2 June 2027 at Besiktas Park in Istanbul, Turkey. These fixtures provide a clear roadmap for clubs and fans alike, outlining when and where each encounter will take place.
The announcements also highlight the growing importance of the secondary European competition, the Conference League, which offers clubs like Bournemouth and Hearts a valuable platform to gain continental experience and showcase their talent on a broader stage. Supporters can stay up‑to‑date with live scores, match reports and exclusive analysis by downloading the Sky Sports app or following the service on WhatsApp. Additionally, Sky Sports is running a promotional "Super 6" competition, giving fans the chance to win a £1 million prize at no cost.
This initiative adds an extra layer of excitement for the football‑loving audience throughout the European campaign. Overall, the confirmed schedules set the stage for a thrilling series of matches across both tournaments, with historic milestones for clubs like Sunderland and Bournemouth, and the chance for established sides such as Celtic and Crystal Palace to add further silverware to their cabinets.
The blend of home and away fixtures ensures a balanced competition, while the knockout rounds promise high‑stakes drama as teams vie for European glory.