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2026/27 UEFA Champions League Schedule: Key Dates for League and Knockout Phases

The main phase of the UEFA Champions League, the premier club football competition globally, is set to kick off soon. After the qualifying rounds have wrapped up, 36 clubs will enter the league stage aiming to secure one of the 24 spots available in the knockout rounds.

Paris Saint-Germain, having won consecutive titles, are chasing a rare third straight win—something only three clubs have ever managed in this tournament's history.

League Stage Start Date

The league phase begins on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Following the current format, the first matchweek will span three days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. After that, matches will take place solely on Tuesdays or Wednesdays each matchweek.

The fixtures will be decided at the draw held on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

2026/27 Champions League League Phase Match Dates

  • Matchweek 1: Sept. 8-10
  • Matchweek 2: Oct. 13-14
  • Matchweek 3: Oct. 20-21
  • Matchweek 4: Nov. 3-4
  • Matchweek 5: Nov. 24-25
  • Matchweek 6: Dec. 8-9
  • Matchweek 7: Jan. 19-20
  • Matchweek 8: Jan. 27

Each club will play eight matches during the league phase. Except for some Thursday fixtures during the opening week, games will be scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The final matchweek’s games all happen on Wednesday, January 27, to ensure fairness across teams.

Knockout Phase Timeline

The knockout stage starts with the playoff round on February 16, 2027. The top eight teams from the league phase skip this playoff and advance directly to the Round of 16, which kicks off on March 9, 2027.

Two draws will shape the knockout rounds: the first on January 29, 2027, sets the bracket for the playoff round, and the second on February 26, 2027, determines the Round of 16 pairings.

Knockout Round Dates 2026/27

  • Knockout playoff draw: Jan. 29, 2027
  • Knockout playoff first leg: Feb. 16-17, 2027
  • Knockout playoff second leg: Feb. 23-24, 2027
  • Round of 16 draw: Feb. 26, 2027
  • Round of 16 first leg: Mar. 9-10, 2027
  • Round of 16 second leg: Mar. 16-17, 2027
  • Quarterfinals first leg: Apr. 6-7, 2027
  • Quarterfinals second leg: Apr. 13-14, 2027
  • Semifinals first leg: Apr. 27-28, 2027
  • Semifinals second leg: May 4-5, 2027
  • Final match: June 5, 2027

Champions League Final Venue and Date

The 2027 final will be played on Saturday, June 5, at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium, home ground of Atletico Madrid.

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