Buckle up, it’s time for a brand new Championship campaign.
The EFL’s top division is, in the minds of many, the most competitive division in football and the 2026/27 renewal is showing signs of being truly special.
Burnley, West Ham and Wolves have come down from the Premier League with talent-packed squads but given the quality already in the second tier, they cannot expect to waltz to promotion.
Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Southampton, Sheffield United, and Wrexham are among the teams expected to challenge near the top of the table.
A shake-up means six play-off spots are on offer this term rather than four and as a result, the Premier League dream feels more in reach than ever for all 24 Championship clubs.
Some will be looking down and not up as the season wears on, however, with survival the first priority for newly-promoted trio Cardiff City, Lincoln City, and Bolton Wanderers as well as a host of others.
A 46-game Championship season is a wild ride and not for the faint-hearted. The good news for UK viewers is that there is extensive coverage throughout the 2026/27 campaign.
Radio Times brings you the complete Championship TV schedule, including every game you can watch live in the UK.
Read more: Best players in the world | Best players of all time
Championship dates 2026/27
The 2026/27 Championship regular season starts on Friday 14 August 2026 and runs until Saturday 1 May 2027.
The Championship 2026/27 play-off final is scheduled to be played on Saturday 29 May 2027.
Championship TV schedule 2026/27
All UK time. Subject to change.
Friday 14 August 2026
Saturday 15 August 2026
Bolton Wanderers v Preston North End (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Bristol City v Millwall (3pm) Sky Sports+
Charlton Athletic v Derby County (3pm) Sky Sports+
Middlesbrough v Lincoln City (3pm) Sky Sports+
Norwich City v West Brom (3pm) Sky Sports+
Portsmouth v QPR (3pm) Sky Sports+
Stoke City v Swansea City (3pm) Sky Sports+
Sheffield United v Birmingham City (5:30pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD
Sunday 16 August 2026
Monday 17 August 2026
Saturday 22 August 2026
Birmingham City v Bristol City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Lincoln City v Portsmouth (12:30pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD
Millwall v Norwich City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Sunday 23 August 2026
Friday 28 August 2026
Saturday 29 August 2026
Derby County v Swansea City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Middlesbrough v West Brom (12:30pm) ITV1 / STV / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD / ITVX / STV Player
Wolves v Stoke City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Birmingham City v Southampton (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Lincoln City v Blackburn Rovers (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Portsmouth v Derby County (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Preston North End v Bristol City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Sheffield United v Bolton Wanderers (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Swansea City v Watford (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
West Ham United v Wolves (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Stoke City v Norwich City (8pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD
Wednesday 2 September 2026
Millwall v Wrexham (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
QPR v Cardiff City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
West Brom v Charlton Athletic (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Burnley v Middlesbrough (8pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD
Saturday 5 September 2026
Lincoln City v Southampton (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers (12:30pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD
Stoke City v Charlton Athletic (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Swansea City v Wrexham (8pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD
Sunday 6 September 2026
Tuesday 8 September 2026
Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Bristol City v Lincoln City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Cardiff City v Stoke City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Middlesbrough v Millwall (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Southampton v Swansea City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Watford v Preston North End (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Wrexham v Burnley (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United (8pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD
Wednesday 9 September 2026
Derby County v West Brom (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Norwich City v Birmingham City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Wolves v Portsmouth (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Charlton Athletic v QPR (8pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD
Friday 11 September 2026
Saturday 12 September 2026
Bolton Wanderers v Cardiff City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Derby County v Birmingham City (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
West Brom v QPR (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Sunday 13 September 2026
Friday 18 September 2026
Saturday 19 September 2026
Cardiff City v Charlton Athletic (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Millwall v West Ham United (12:30pm) ITV1 / STV / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD / ITVX / STV Player
Stoke City v Sheffield United (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Sunday 20 September 2026
Friday 9 October 2026
Saturday 10 October 2026
Charlton Athletic v Bristol City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Swansea City v Norwich City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
West Brom v Birmingham City (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Sunday 11 October 2026
Tuesday 13 October 2026
Birmingham City v Preston North End (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Bristol City v Blackburn Rovers (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Burnley v Charlton Athletic (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Cardiff City v Watford (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Millwall v Swansea City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Wolves v Bolton Wanderers (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Wrexham v West Brom (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Stoke City v Middlesbrough (8pm) Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 14 October 2026
Norwich City v Southampton (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Portsmouth v Sheffield United (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
QPR v Derby County (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Lincoln City v West Ham United (8pm) Sky Sports Football
Friday 16 October 2026
Saturday 17 October 2026
Middlesbrough v Cardiff City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Millwall v Lincoln City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Watford v Charlton Athletic (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Friday 23 October 2026
Saturday 24 October 2026
Charlton Athletic v Norwich City (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Portsmouth v Millwall (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Sheffield United v Derby County (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Friday 30 October 2026
Saturday 31 October 2026
Lincoln City v Birmingham City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Norwich City v Watford (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Stoke City v Preston North End (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Tuesday 3 November 2026
Birmingham City v Millwall (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Derby County v Norwich City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Portsmouth v Swansea City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Preston North End v Sheffield United (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
QPR v Burnley (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Watford v Lincoln City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
West Brom v Southampton (8pm) Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 4 November 2026
Cardiff City v West Ham United (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Charlton Athletic v Bolton Wanderers (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Wrexham v Middlesbrough (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Bristol City v Wolves (8pm) Sky Sports Football
Friday 6 November 2026
Saturday 7 November 2026
Bristol City v Norwich City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Portsmouth v Stoke City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Wrexham v Wolves (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Saturday 21 November 2026
Millwall v QPR (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Norwich City v Cardiff City (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Southampton v Derby County (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Sunday 22 November 2026
Tuesday 24 November 2026
Bristol City v Wrexham (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Cardiff City v Preston North End (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Charlton Athletic v Lincoln City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Middlesbrough v Swansea City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Norwich City v QPR (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Portsmouth v West Ham United (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Sheffield United v Southampton (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Wolves v Derby County (8pm) Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 25 November 2026
Bolton Wanderers v West Brom (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Burnley v Birmingham City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Watford v Blackburn Rovers (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Stoke City v Millwall (8pm) Sky Sports Football
Friday 27 November 2026
Saturday 28 November 2026
Blackburn Rovers v Charlton Athletic (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Lincoln City v Wolves (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Preston North End v Norwich City (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Sunday 29 November 2026
Friday 4 December 2026
Saturday 5 December 2026
Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Middlesbrough v Derby County (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Watford v Millwall (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Sunday 6 December 2026
Tuesday 8 December 2026
Birmingham City v Watford (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Millwall v Sheffield United (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
QPR v Wolves (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Swansea City v Bolton Wanderers (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
West Brom v Cardiff City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Wrexham v Charlton Athletic (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
West Ham United v Middlesbrough (8pm) Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 9 December 2026
Derby County v Bristol City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Lincoln City v Stoke City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Preston North End v Portsmouth (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Southampton v Burnley (8pm) Sky Sports Football
Friday 11 December 2026
Saturday 12 December 2026
Preston North End v Middlesbrough (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
QPR v Watford (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Stoke City v West Brom (12:30pm) Sky Sports Football
Friday 18 December 2026
Saturday 19 December 2026
Birmingham City v West Ham United (12:30pm) ITV1 / STV / Sky Sports Football / ITVX / STV Player
Swansea City v Preston North End (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Watford v Bolton Wanderers (12:30pm) Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 December 2026
Tuesday 29 December 2026
Wrexham v Blackburn Rovers (6pm) Sky Sports Football
Burnley v Lincoln City (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Millwall v Portsmouth (7:45pm) Sky Sports+
Southampton v West Ham United (8:15pm) Sky Sports Football
Friday 1 January 2027
Championship TV rights 2026/27
Sky Sports is the home of Championship football in 2026/27, with the broadcaster set to show more than 1,000 live games across the EFL, Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy this term.
Sky Sports can be added to any Sky TV package for just £24 per month for all nine sports channels, or you can pick up the complete sports package plus Netflix for £35 per month.
Sky Sports+ will feature a huge chunk of the 1000+ games in EFL competitions throughout the season and is included as part of Sky Sports packages.
NOW is essentially Sky Sports without a contract. You can buy a day membership (£14.99) or month membership (£34.99).
NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via TNT Sports.
10 EFL games will also be broadcast live on ITV across the 2026/27 campaign.
Want to see this content?
Accept and continue
Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.