Premier League clubs return to pre-season ahead of 2026/27 campaign
The league has outlined the early return to training and the key dates leading into the 2026/27 Premier League season.
The Premier League said on 16 July that players were beginning to return for pre-season training ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The league’s account places the start of the new season on 21 August, giving clubs a short final build-up after the summer break.
Who had started training
At the time of the announcement, AFC Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Coventry City, Ipswich Town, Liverpool and Manchester United were among the clubs whose players had started to return. Everton’s pre-season had begun on 10 July, while several other clubs were due back on 13 July.
The dates before the league begins
The league listed the first pre-season friendlies for 18 July and highlighted several dates before the opening matchweek: the FIFA World Cup final on 19 July, the UEFA Super Cup on 12 August, the FA Community Shield on 16 August and the UEFA Conference League playoff round on 20 August.
Players involved in the later stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup were expected to receive additional rest and could return to their clubs in early August. Supporters therefore have a clear calendar for the run-in, but squad availability can still vary as clubs complete their preparations.
The full Premier League update is available in the league’s official pre-season briefing.
Sources and reporting
Primary source: Premier League, ‘When do Premier League clubs return for 2026/27 pre-season?’, published 16 July 2026: https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4678380/premier-league-clubs-return-for-pre-season-key-dates-friendlies-and-training-updates Image: official Premier League press image.