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EFL releases 2026-27 Championship and League Two opening fixtures
Cardiff City will host Wrexham on 17 August to open the Championship season. Swansea City begins at Stoke City while Newport County starts at home against Rochdale.
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Cardiff City will host Wrexham on Monday, 17 August in the first match of the 2026-27 Championship season. The fixture marks the first league meeting between the clubs in 24 years. Swansea City opens its campaign away to Stoke City on Saturday, 15 August. Newport County begins its League Two season at home against Rochdale on the same weekend.
Welsh derbies scheduled The south Wales derby returns with Swansea City hosting Cardiff City on 28 November and the return fixture set for 13 March. Swansea City will also host Wrexham on 5 September, with the reverse match on 10 April. Wrexham's first home game is against Watford on 22 August. The club travels to Stoke City on 26 December and hosts Bolton Wanderers on 1 January.
Season context Three Welsh clubs will compete in the Championship for the first time since the 1980-81 season. Cardiff City travels to Derby County on 22 August for its first away match after promotion. The 2026-27 EFL season begins across all three divisions on the weekend of 14-16 August. The Carabao Cup first round starts one week earlier on 7-9 August.
