Champions League 2026/27 Dates: Draws, Matchdays and Final
The 2026/27 Champions League began with qualifying on 7 July 2026 and ends at Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano on Saturday 5 June 2027.
The Champions League now stretches across nearly eleven months. Qualifying begins while many major-league clubs are still in pre-season, the league phase runs from September to January and the knockout bracket occupies the spring.
This calendar collects the competition dates confirmed by UEFA. Individual kick-off times and final fixture assignments should still be checked after each draw.
Qualifying and play-off dates
- First qualifying round: 7 and 8 July, with second legs on 14 and 15 July
- Second qualifying round: 21 and 22 July, with second legs on 28 and 29 July
- Third qualifying round: 4 and 5 August, with second legs on 11 August
- Play-off round: 18 and 19 August, with second legs on 25 and 26 August
League phase dates
- Matchday 1: 8 to 10 September 2026
- Matchday 2: 13 and 14 October 2026
- Matchday 3: 20 and 21 October 2026
- Matchday 4: 3 and 4 November 2026
- Matchday 5: 24 and 25 November 2026
- Matchday 6: 8 and 9 December 2026
- Matchday 7: 19 and 20 January 2027
- Matchday 8: 27 January 2027
Knockout dates
- Knockout phase play-offs: 16 and 17 February, with second legs on 23 and 24 February 2027
- Round of 16: 9 and 10 March, with second legs on 16 and 17 March 2027
- Quarter-finals: 6 and 7 April, with second legs on 13 and 14 April 2027
- Semi-finals: 27 and 28 April, with second legs on 4 and 5 May 2027
- Final: Saturday 5 June 2027
Main draw dates
The league phase draw is scheduled for 27 August 2026. The knockout phase play-off draw follows on 29 January 2027, with the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final draw scheduled for 26 February 2027.
UEFA can communicate fixture details after the draw and may amend arrangements when operational constraints require it. Supporters planning travel should treat the confirmed fixture assignment, not the draw alone, as the decisive information.
Why the calendar changes midfield management
The final two league-phase matchdays arrive in January, immediately after a demanding domestic period for English clubs. Rotation cannot be planned as a simple separation between competitions. A midfielder’s load in December can affect a decisive European match several weeks later.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026/27 Champions League league phase start?
Matchday one is played from 8 to 10 September 2026.
When is the league phase draw?
The draw is scheduled for Thursday 27 August 2026.
When does the league phase end?
All matchday-eight fixtures are scheduled for 27 January 2027.
Where and when is the 2027 Champions League final?
It is scheduled for Saturday 5 June 2027 at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
Sources and methodology
This guide was checked against the following primary or specialist sources. Rules and schedules can change, so the official competition pages remain the final authority.