The EFL has confirmed the key start dates for the 2026–27 season, with the new campaign getting under way in early August.
The season will begin with Round One of the Carabao Cup, which is scheduled to take place over the weekend of 7–9 August 2026. League action will then follow a week later, with the Championship, League One and League Two all kicking off over the weekend of 14–16 August.
The Vertu Trophy will begin later in the autumn, with fixtures set to start in the week commencing 21 September.
These dates give clubs and supporters an early outline of the 2026–27 schedule as preparations for the new season begin.
With the FIFA World Cup taking place from 11 June to 19 July 2026, hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States, the confirmed EFL dates signal a swift transition into the 2026–27 season as clubs and supporters look ahead to another busy campaign.