The SPFL has announced the key dates for the 2025/26 season, giving Scottish football fans and clubs an early look at the schedule for the Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup campaigns. This release allows teams like Rangers, who are already looking ahead to next season, to begin planning for what promises to be another highly competitive year.
Scottish Premiership Key Dates
The league season will kick off on the weekend of August 2/3, 2025, with the full fixture list expected to be unveiled after the current 2024/25 season concludes. The league campaign will run through its usual 38-match format, with the post-split fixtures commencing after Fixture Round 33, scheduled for the weekend of April 11/12, 2026. The final day of the season, Fixture Round 38, is set for the weekend of May 16/17, 2026.
The season will culminate in the Premiership Play-Off Final, which will take place over two legs on Thursday, May 21, 2026, and Sunday, May 24, 2026, determining which teams will secure their spots in the Scottish Premiership for the following season. These dates are critical for clubs at both ends of the table, as they finalize their strategies for promotion, relegation, and European qualification.
Premier Sports Cup (League Cup) Schedule
The Premier Sports Cup will once again provide thrilling early-season action. The group stage kicks off in mid-July, offering clubs a chance to hit the ground running ahead of the league campaign. The schedule for the group stage is as follows:
Matchday 1: Weekend of July 12/13, 2025
Matchday 2: Midweek of July 15/16, 2025
Matchday 3: Weekend of July 19/20, 2025
Matchday 4: Midweek of July 22/23, 2025
Matchday 5: Weekend of July 26/27, 2025
The second round, featuring the top teams from the group stage and clubs competing in Europe, will take place on the weekend of August 16/17, 2025, followed by the quarter-finals on September 20/21, 2025. The semi-finals are set for the weekend of November 1/2, 2025, and the competition will conclude with the highly anticipated final on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
No Winter Break for a Second Consecutive Season
As was the case for the 2024/25 campaign, the SPFL has confirmed there will be no winter break for the upcoming season. This decision reflects the growing demands of UEFA’s expanded competition format, with the league phase of both the Champions League and Europa League now running until late January. The increased fixture load, combined with five Scottish teams competing in Europe next season, has placed significant pressure on the domestic calendar.
In an official statement, the SPFL explained the reasoning behind the move:
“The second season of the expanded UEFA club competitions – the league phase of the Champions League and Europa League again runs until the end of January – exerts additional pressure on the domestic calendar. As was the case for 2024/25, there will be no scheduled William Hill Premiership winter break in season 2025/26.”
While the lack of a winter break may be met with mixed reactions, it highlights the growing competitiveness of Scottish football on the European stage. Clubs and players will need to adapt to the relentless schedule, managing fatigue and injuries while maintaining performance levels across multiple competitions.
A Busy Year Ahead
The 2025/26 season promises to be another packed and thrilling campaign for Scottish football, with major dates for the diary already set. Rangers and their supporters, along with fans of other Premiership clubs, can now begin to plan their calendars as they look forward to the challenges and opportunities of the new season. Whether competing for league titles, battling for European places, or aiming for domestic cup glory, the stakes are higher than ever as Scottish football continues to grow in prominence on the national and international stage.