2026/27 UEFA Champions League League Phase Schedule and Key Dates
The main stage of the UEFA Champions League is about to kick off after the qualifying rounds have wrapped up. A total of 36 teams will compete in the league phase, all aiming to secure one of the 24 spots in the knockout rounds.
Paris Saint-Germain, having won the last two titles, are chasing a rare third consecutive championship—an achievement only three clubs have managed in the tournament’s history.
League Phase Kickoff Date
The league stage of the 2026/27 season will start on Tuesday, September 8. This opening matchweek will be spread across three days—Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday—continuing a format adjustment seen in recent years. Subsequent matchweeks will feature games on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
The fixtures will be set during the draw on Thursday, August 27.
Match Dates for League Phase 2026/27
- Matchweek 1: September 8-10
- Matchweek 2: October 13-14
- Matchweek 3: October 20-21
- Matchweek 4: November 3-4
- Matchweek 5: November 24-25
- Matchweek 6: December 8-9
- Matchweek 7: January 19-20
- Matchweek 8: January 27 (all games played this day to ensure fairness)
Knockout Stage Timeline
The knockout playoff round begins on February 16, 2027. The top eight teams from the league phase automatically advance to the Round of 16, which starts on March 9, 2027.
Two draws will shape the knockout stages: the first on January 29, 2027, to decide the playoff bracket, and the second on February 26, 2027, to determine Round of 16 pairings.
Key Knockout Dates
- Knockout Playoff Draw: January 29, 2027
- Knockout Playoff Matches: February 16-17 (first leg), February 23-24 (second leg)
- Round of 16 Draw: February 26, 2027
- Round of 16 Matches: March 9-10 (first leg), March 16-17 (second leg)
- Quarterfinals: April 6-7 (first leg), April 13-14 (second leg)
- Semifinals: April 27-28 (first leg), May 4-5 (second leg)
- Final: June 5, 2027
The Final Venue
The final will take place on Saturday, June 5, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, home to Atletico Madrid.
