The Premier League Is Back Tomorrow — Full Opening Weekend Preview and Jersey Guide

Published: August 20, 2026 — TOMORROW. The 2026-27 Premier League season kicks off. Arsenal defend their title. Coventry City make their top-flight return. Xabi Alonso takes charge of Chelsea. Andoni Iraola begins at Liverpool. José Mourinho's Real Madrid may be getting all the headlines in Spain, but England's top flight has its own storylines — and 20 new kits worth owning. Here is your complete opening weekend preview and jersey guide.

Why This Season Starts Late

The 2026/27 Premier League season starts a week later than usual to help player recovery following the 2026 World Cup. Half the league's players were at the tournament — from Bellingham and Kane's England run to the eight World Cup winners at Barcelona playing in the Champions League. The season will start on August 22, 2026 and end on May 30, 2027.

The extra week of rest has been welcomed by clubs — but for fans, the wait is over tomorrow.

Friday Night: The Curtain-Raiser

🔴 Arsenal vs 🔵 Coventry City · Friday August 21 · 8pm BST · Emirates Stadium

Defending champions Arsenal will kick off the 2026/27 Premier League season at home to Coventry on Friday August 21, live on Sky Sports. The curtain-raiser will see Mikel Arteta's Gunners — fresh from celebrating their first title triumph in 22 years — play host to Frank Lampard's Championship winners in an 8pm kick-off at Emirates Stadium.

This is the match that opens everything. Arsenal, champions for the first time in 22 years, welcoming back Coventry City to the top flight for the first time in decades. The opening five fixtures are a genuine mixed bag: Coventry City at home on August 21 is the straightforward opener, but Aston Villa away in gameweek two and Chelsea at home in gameweek three both represent serious tests.

Arsenal's first away game will be against Europa League winners Aston Villa. Their first London derby sees Chelsea visit N5 at the start of September.

Jerseys to watch: The red Arsenal home jersey — champions' crest, 22-year wait finally over. The sky blue Coventry away kit — their 10/10-rated debut season shirt, worn for the first time in the Premier League.

Shop the Arsenal 2026-27 Jersey → Shop the Coventry City 2026-27 Jersey →

Saturday's Fixtures — Six Matches

🔴 Hull City vs ⬛ Manchester United · 12:30pm BST · TNT Sports

Hull City host Manchester United for the season's first Saturday lunchtime game, live on TNT Sports at 12:30.

Manchester United under Michael Carrick, away kit widely regarded as the best in the Premier League this season, at newly-promoted Hull City whose own kit has been called one of the worst in recent memory. The contrast in design quality alone makes this worth watching.

Shop the Manchester United 2026-27 Away Jersey →

Three 3pm Saturday Kick-offs

There are three Premier League fixtures kicking off at 15:00: Nottingham Forest will host Leeds United; Crystal Palace will visit Everton; and Ipswich Town will play their first game back in the Premier League against Sunderland.

Ipswich vs Sunderland is the pick of the 3pm games — two of this season's best-kitted sides going head to head on opening day. Ipswich Town fans have given their home kit a 4.04 fan rating, and Sunderland's 10/10-rated debut season shirt will be seen in the Premier League for the first time.

Shop the Sunderland 2026-27 Jersey → Shop the Ipswich Town 2026-27 Jersey →

🔴 Brentford vs ⚪ Tottenham Hotspur · 5:30pm BST · Sky Sports

The Saturday evening game. Tottenham's reliable white kit against Brentford's home shirt — which has had a rough reception from supporters this season.

Sunday's Fixtures — Three Big Games

⬛🔵 Brighton vs 💜 Aston Villa · 2pm BST · Sky Sports

Brighton vs Aston Villa kicks off Sunday at 2pm, live on Sky Sports.

Brighton's kit — the highest fan-rated jersey in the division — takes on Villa in what promises to be one of the opening weekend's highest-quality matches. Villa, Europa League winners under Unai Emery in 2025-26, are one of Arsenal's most significant title challengers this season.

Shop the Brighton 2026-27 Jersey → Shop the Aston Villa 2026-27 Jersey →

🔵 Manchester City vs 🔴 Bournemouth · 2pm BST · Sky Sports

Manchester City vs Bournemouth kicks off Sunday at 2pm, live on Sky Sports. City's gradient home kit — one of the season's best-designed shirts — on show at the Etihad from day one.

Shop the Manchester City 2026-27 Jersey →

⬛⬜ Newcastle United vs 🔴 Liverpool · 4:30pm BST · Sky Sports

Newcastle United vs Liverpool — Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports.

There will be six Premier League games live on Sky Sports across the opening round, including Andoni Iraola's first match in charge of Liverpool. New Liverpool manager, new season, historic fixture. Newcastle's controversial "barcode" home shirt vs Liverpool's classic red. The Sunday evening appointment match.

Shop the Newcastle United 2026-27 Jersey → Shop the Liverpool 2026-27 Jersey →

Monday Night: The London Derby

⬛ Fulham vs 🔵 Chelsea · Monday August 24 · 8pm BST · Sky Sports

Fulham vs Chelsea is the final game of the opening round — Monday August 24, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports.

Xabi Alonso's first Premier League match in charge of Chelsea. The Spaniard — World Cup winner with Spain, former La Liga title winner as manager — brings his style to Stamford Bridge and begins with an away day at Craven Cottage. Two London derbies feature on the opening weekend, with Fulham facing Chelsea on Monday night.

Chelsea's away kit — the highest fan-rated individual kit in the league at 4.21 stars — will be on show from matchday one.

Shop the Chelsea 2026-27 Away Jersey →

The Opening Weekend in Full

The New Manager Stories

Chelsea — Xabi Alonso · The World Cup winning midfielder, La Liga title winning manager. Arrives at Stamford Bridge with enormous credentials and enormous expectations.

Liverpool — Andoni Iraola · The Spanish manager who transformed Bournemouth into a top-half Premier League side. Now handed one of the world's biggest jobs.

Manchester United — Michael Carrick · The former United midfielder tasked with the club's latest rebuild. Opens with a trip to Hull City wearing the best away kit in the division.

Leeds United — Back in the Premier League · Promoted after three seasons in the Championship. The yellow and white jersey returns to the top flight.

Order Before Tomorrow's Opener

The Premier League transfer window closes August 31. The opening weekend is tomorrow. Both facts create urgency for jersey buyers — players may move clubs before September, and the most popular sizes of opening-weekend kits are already running low.

JerseyFun carries all 20 Premier League clubs' 2026-27 jerseys. Order today for UK delivery before the weekend.

Browse the full Premier League 2026-27 collection at JerseyFun →

Published: August 20, 2026. Premier League 2026-27 opens Friday August 21 with Arsenal vs Coventry City, 8pm BST, Emirates Stadium, live on Sky Sports. Transfer window closes August 31. Season ends May 30, 2027.