More changes are coming to the Canadian Football League in 2027.
The league and the Canadian Football League Players Association have announced agreed-upon updates to the regular season and playoff format.
New regular season dates
After typically kicking off its season in June, the CFL revealed that the 2027 regular season will instead begin during the Victoria Day Long Weekend (the third weekend of May). The final week of the schedule will take place over Thanksgiving weekend (the second weekend of October).
In explaining the shift, the league said it aims to take advantage of warmer weather, which should help boost attendance and reduce the impact of colder conditions on gameplay.
“All summer long, the CFL will be front and centre – exactly where it belongs. We’re establishing CFL Long Weekends, from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, to create can’t-miss events for fans in the stadium and those watching at home,” said Commissioner Stewart Johnston in a news release.
Teams will still play an 18-game regular season.
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New playoff format
With the revised schedule comes a new playoff format.
Previously, six teams qualified for the postseason. The first-place team in each division advanced directly to the division final, while the second- and third-place teams met in the semifinals. A crossover rule also allowed a fourth-place team from one division to replace a third-place team in the other if it had a better record.
Beginning in 2027, eight of the league’s nine teams will make the playoffs. The first- and second-place teams in both the West and East divisions will face off in a “showdown” game. Winners will advance to the division finals, while losers will move on to the semifinals.
The remaining teams will be reseeded: the fifth-ranked team will play the eighth, and the sixth will meet the seventh in elimination play-in matchups. Winners of those games will advance to the semifinals, where they will face the losers of the showdown contests.
Semifinal winners will move on to the division finals, with those victors ultimately competing for the Grey Cup.
Regina is set to host the 2027 Grey Cup on November 7.
In the release, Johnston said expanding the playoff field will add excitement.
“More games. More drama. More entertainment. That was the mission, and that’s exactly what this format will deliver,” he said. “We’re raising the stakes so every game carries real consequences – more teams in the hunt, right to the end.”
Other new dates
The earlier start to the season will also shift several offseason events. The CFL Combine will move to the week of March 15.
The CFL Draft will take place on April 13, followed by the Global Draft on April 14.
Rookie camps will open on April 21, with training camp beginning April 24.