UEFA Champions League Fixtures 2025/26 – Full Matchday Schedule
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League season represents the second edition of the competition’s revolutionary new format, promising more blockbuster matchups and increased drama throughout the league phase.
With 36 teams competing in a single league table rather than traditional groups, fans can look forward to high-stakes encounters from September through January, culminating in the final at Budapest’s stunning Puskás Aréna on May 30, 2026.
This comprehensive guide provides everything you need to know about the fixtures, format, and teams vying for Europe’s most prestigious club football trophy.
Overview and New Format
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League marks the 71st season of Europe’s premier club competition and the 34th since its rebranding from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League.
This season continues the revolutionary format introduced in the previous year, which replaced the traditional group stage with a single league phase involving 36 teams.
The changes were designed to create more competitive balance and ensure fans see more marquee matchups throughout the tournament.
The qualification process saw 29 teams enter automatically through their domestic league positions or as defending champions (Paris Saint-Germain) or Europa League winners (Tottenham Hotspur).
Two additional spots were allocated through European Performance Spots to associations with the highest coefficients from the previous season, while seven teams fought through qualifying rounds to complete the field.
Notably, England has six representatives—the most of any nation—thanks to both the European Performance Spot and Tottenham’s Europa League victory the previous season.
The tournament schedule begins with the league phase running from September 2025 through January 2026, followed by knockout rounds beginning in February 2026.
The final will be held at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, which will mark the first time Hungary’s national stadium hosts the Champions League final, though it previously hosted the 2023 Europa League final and matches during UEFA Euro 2020.
League Phase Fixtures: Complete Matchday Schedule
Each team plays eight matches (four home, four away) against opponents from different seeding pots. Matches take place across Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
| Matchday | Date | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | September 16-18, 2025 | Fixtures, kick-off times, and results | View Matchday 1 Fixtures |
| Matchday 2 | September 30-October 1, 2025 | Complete schedule and scores | View Matchday 2 Fixtures |
| Matchday 3 | October 21-22, 2025 | Fixtures, kick-off times, and results | View Matchday 3 Fixtures |
| Matchday 4 | November 4-5, 2025 | Complete schedule and scores | View Matchday 4 Fixtures |
| Matchday 5 | November 25-26, 2025 | Fixtures, kick-off times, and results | View Matchday 5 Fixtures |
| Matchday 6 | December 9-10, 2025 | Complete schedule and scores | View Matchday 6 Fixtures |
| Matchday 7 | January 20-21, 2026 | Fixtures, kick-off times, and results | View Matchday 7 Fixtures |
| Matchday 8 | January 28, 2026 | Complete schedule and scores | View Matchday 8 Fixtures |
Knockout Phase and Tournament Structure
Following the league phase, the top 24 teams advance to the knockout rounds. The new format creates additional drama by introducing a knockout phase play-off before the traditional round of 16.
The qualification process works as follows:
- Teams finishing 1st-8th in the league phase advance directly to the round of 16
- Teams finishing 9th-24th enter the two-legged knockout phase play-offs
- Teams finishing 25th-36th are eliminated from European competition entirely
This structure replaces the previous system where third-place group finishers dropped into the Europa League, meaning teams must perform consistently throughout the league phase to continue their European campaigns.
UEFA Champions League Fixtures 2025/26 – knockout phase
The knockout phase schedule has been confirmed as follows:
- Knockout phase play-offs: February 17/18 & 24/25, 2026
- Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18, 2026
- Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15, 2026
- Semi-finals: April 28/29 & May 5/6, 2026
- Final: May 30, 2026
The draws for the knockout phases will take place on:
- Knockout phase play-offs: January 30, 2026
- Round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals: February 27, 2026
The winner gains automatic qualification to the 2026/27 Champions League league phase (if not already qualified domestically), entry to the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup finals, a place in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup group stage, and the right to face the 2025/26 Europa League winner in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
How to Watch UEFA Champions League 2025/26
For fans looking to watch the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, broadcasting arrangements vary by country.
In many regions, including the United States, Paramount+ holds the streaming rights for the competition, as indicated by the broadcast information listed alongside fixtures.
The official UEFA Champions League app provides goal alerts, line-up announcements, and match highlights shortly after games conclude. UEFA recommends using Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge for the optimal experience on their website.
The revolutionary format ensures that each matchday delivers compelling storylines and high-stakes drama as Europe’s elite clubs compete for continental supremacy.
The Road to Budapest Begins
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League continues to deliver more competitive balance and high-profile matchups. With six English clubs, defending champions PSG, and Europa League winners Tottenham, the league phase promises eight matchdays of thrilling football.
From September to May, all roads lead to Budapest’s Puskás Aréna, where one club will lift Europe’s most prestigious trophy.
Whether your club is considered to have an easy path or faces the most difficult of challenges, the new Champions League format ensures that every match matters in the pursuit of glory.