The Premier League has confirmed its Boxing Day fixtures and kick-off times for the 2026 festive period, setting up an exciting programme of matches featuring some of English football’s biggest clubs as the season enters a crucial stage.
With supporters preparing for one of the most anticipated periods on the football calendar, the schedule includes seven matches on Saturday, December 26, followed by three more fixtures on Sunday, December 27. Among the standout encounters are Newcastle United’s meeting with Manchester City, Liverpool’s trip to Hull City and Arsenal’s clash with Crystal Palace.
The festive schedule offers clubs an opportunity to build momentum, strengthen their league positions and deliver memorable performances during a period traditionally associated with intense football action.
Aston Villa will open the Boxing Day programme against Leeds United at 12:30 GMT, with both sides looking to make the most of the occasion. The early kick-off will give supporters an opportunity to begin their festive football viewing before four matches take place simultaneously at 15:00 GMT.
Everton will welcome Sunderland in a fixture that could prove important for both teams as they seek valuable points during the demanding winter period. Everton will be eager to make home advantage count, while Sunderland will aim to frustrate their hosts and leave with a positive result.
Fulham will face Brighton and Hove Albion in another intriguing encounter between two sides capable of producing attractive, attacking football. The meeting could provide an entertaining contest, particularly if both teams approach the game with the intention of controlling possession and creating opportunities in the final third.
Ipswich Town will host Brentford, with the two clubs also looking to capitalise on the festive occasion. The match presents an opportunity for either side to secure an important result and build confidence ahead of the remaining fixtures in the busy Christmas and New Year schedule.
Tottenham Hotspur will round off the 15:00 GMT fixtures against Bournemouth in a contest that could deliver plenty of attacking excitement. Both teams will be hoping to impose their style of play, with Tottenham looking to satisfy their home supporters and Bournemouth aiming to demonstrate their ability to compete against established Premier League opposition.
Liverpool’s visit to Hull City will follow at 17:30 GMT, providing one of the day’s major talking points. Liverpool will travel with expectations of challenging for maximum points, although Hull could make the occasion difficult for their visitors, particularly if they take advantage of home support and maintain defensive discipline.
The fixture will also offer Hull an opportunity to measure themselves against one of English football’s most prominent clubs. For Liverpool, avoiding dropped points during the festive period could prove significant as the race for the league’s leading positions develops.
Newcastle United’s home encounter with Manchester City will bring Saturday’s programme to a close, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
The meeting between the two sides stands out as one of the most compelling fixtures of the round. Newcastle will hope to use their home advantage to challenge City’s possession-based approach, while the visitors will be determined to demonstrate their quality in a potentially demanding away fixture.
Manchester City will be aware that Newcastle can pose a considerable threat, particularly when they press aggressively and attack with pace. The contest could therefore become a test of City’s ability to manage pressure while creating opportunities against an organised opponent.
Sunday’s action will begin with Coventry City hosting Chelsea at 14:00 GMT. Chelsea will be looking to navigate a potentially difficult away assignment, while Coventry will have the opportunity to produce a memorable result against one of the league’s major clubs.
Manchester United will then welcome Nottingham Forest at 16:30 GMT in another fixture attracting considerable attention. Both teams will be looking to secure a positive result, with United expected to face a determined Forest side eager to make its presence felt.
The festive round will conclude with Crystal Palace hosting Arsenal at 19:00 GMT. The London encounter could prove particularly significant for Arsenal if the club is involved in the battle for the Premier League title, as every point becomes increasingly valuable during the second half of the season.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will hope to make home advantage count against their London rivals. Arsenal will need to approach the fixture with concentration and composure, especially against a Palace side capable of making life difficult for visiting teams.
The 2026 Boxing Day schedule also reflects the Premier League’s efforts to manage the demands of the festive calendar. The league has stated that clubs will have at least 60 hours between matches over the Christmas and New Year period, addressing concerns about player welfare amid an increasingly crowded domestic and international football schedule.
With seven matches scheduled for Boxing Day and three more on December 27, supporters can anticipate a full weekend of Premier League action. The contests involving Newcastle and Manchester City, Hull and Liverpool, and Crystal Palace and Arsenal are likely to attract particular attention, although the remaining fixtures could also have important consequences for the league table.
As the festive period approaches, clubs will be hoping to combine consistency with strong performances, knowing that results during this demanding stretch can influence the direction of their seasons.
