Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Brighton, Celtic and Hearts have all received the full details of their upcoming fixtures in this season's Europa League and Conference League campaigns. The draws for the league phases of both tournaments were conducted on Friday, setting the stage for a series of matches that will see Europa League participants contest eight games each, while clubs in the Conference League will face six fixtures – all split evenly between home and away venues – spread across the period from September 2026 through January 2027.
For Sunderland, the occasion is historic: the club will be making its first foray into European competition in more than half a century, a 53‑year gap since their last appearance on the continent. Their inaugural European tie will take them to the iconic San Siro stadium, where they will meet the storied Italian side AC Milan.
In a parallel milestone, Bournemouth, also embarking on their maiden European adventure, have been drawn to host AC Milan at their own ground, offering a rare chance for their fans to witness a top‑flight Italian club on home soil. Celtic’s schedule features a blend of high‑profile opponents.
The Scottish giants will host French side Olympique de Marseille in one of their eight Europa League matches, and they will also travel to Portugal to take on Marco Silva’s Benfica, adding a further layer of intrigue to their continental run. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, who lifted the Conference League trophy last season, have been paired with LaLiga outfit Real Sociedad for a home fixture and will travel to France to face Lyon, underscoring the diverse geographic spread of their campaign. The detailed calendar for the league 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 group stages, the knockout phase will commence with play‑offs scheduled for 18 February and 25 February 2027.
The Round of 16 will be contested on 11 March and 18 March 2027, while the quarter‑finals are set for 8 April and 15 April 2027. The semi‑final legs will take place on 29 April and 6 May 2027, culminating in the grand finale on 26 May 2027 at the Stadion Frankfurt in Germany.
In addition to the Europa League timetable, the Conference League’s own schedule has been released. Fans can download the Sky Sports app or follow updates via Sky Sports on WhatsApp to stay informed about match times, venues and any last‑minute changes.
The Conference League matchdays are arranged as follows: - 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 knockout‑stage dates mirror those of the Europa League up to the semi‑finals, with play‑offs on 18 February and 25 February 2027, Round of 16 on 11 March and 18 March 2027, quarter‑finals on 8 April and 15 April 2027, and semi‑finals on 29 April and 6 May 2027. However, the final for the Conference League will be held a week later, on 2 June 2027, at the Besiktas Park in Istanbul, Turkey, offering a spectacular backdrop for the climax of the competition. Beyond the fixtures, the announcement also includes promotional opportunities for fans. Sky Sports is encouraging supporters to engage with its Super 6 game, a free‑entry competition that gives participants a chance to win a £1 million prize.
This adds an extra layer of excitement for viewers who will be following the European nights of their favourite clubs. Overall, the release of these schedules marks the beginning of an intense period of continental football for the involved clubs. Sunderland and Bournemouth will be eager to make a strong impression in their debut European outings, while Celtic and Crystal Palace aim to build on their recent successes and challenge for deeper runs in their respective tournaments.
The blend of historic venues, diverse opponents and tightly packed matchdays promises a captivating season for supporters across the United Kingdom and beyond.