Sunderland will kick off their return to the Premier League with an away trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday August 22, as the newly promoted club prepares for a season that also includes European football for the first time in years.

The Black Cats secured a seventh-place finish last campaign, earning a spot in the UEFA Europa League, and they will balance continental commitments alongside a demanding domestic schedule throughout 2026/27.

Opening run of fixtures

After the opener at Portman Road, Sunderland host Fulham at the Stadium of Light on August 29 before travelling to Brentford on September 5. Their first home league match will therefore be the Fulham fixture, giving supporters at the Stadium of Light an early taste of top-flight action.

The early weeks also include a home match against Arsenal on September 12 and a daunting away day at Manchester City on September 19.

Tyne-Wear derby dates confirmed

One of the most anticipated fixtures on the calendar, the Tyne-Wear derby, has been scheduled for Saturday December 5 at St James' Park. Sunderland supporters will need to wait until Saturday May 1 for the return fixture, when Newcastle United visit the Stadium of Light.

Festive fixtures and new year

Sunderland enter the busy festive period by hosting Crystal Palace on December 19, then travelling to Everton on Boxing Day before closing out 2026 with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on December 30.

The new year begins with a home match against Hull City on January 2, giving supporters a quick turnaround before the second half of the season gathers momentum.

End-of-season run-in

The closing weeks of the campaign will test Sunderland's squad depth significantly. They host Bournemouth on May 15, travel to Leeds United on May 23, and then conclude the entire Premier League season at home against Manchester City on Sunday May 30.

Key dates for Sunderland's 2026/27 season

Beyond the league, the Europa League league phase draw takes place on August 28, with the phase itself running from September 16–17 through to January 28. The Europa League knockout phase begins on February 18, with the final scheduled for May 26 at the Waldstadion in Frankfurt. Domestically, the FA Cup final falls on May 22 and the Carabao Cup final on March 21.

Full fixture list

August: 22 — Ipswich Town (a) 3pm; 29 — Fulham (h) 3pm.

September: 5 — Brentford (a) 3pm; 12 — Arsenal (h) 3pm; 19 — Manchester City (a) 3pm.

October: 10 — Brighton (h) 3pm; 17 — Bournemouth (a) 3pm; 24 — Leeds United (h) 3pm; 31 — Coventry (a) 3pm.

November: 7 — Chelsea (h) 3pm; 21 — Aston Villa (a) 3pm; 28 — Tottenham Hotspur (h) 3pm.

December: 2 — Liverpool (a) 8pm; 5 — Newcastle United (a) 3pm; 12 — Nottingham Forest (h) 3pm; 19 — Crystal Palace (h) 3pm; 26 — Everton (a) 3pm; 30 — Manchester United (a) 8pm.

January: 2 — Hull City (h) 3pm; 6 — Liverpool (h) 8pm; 16 — Chelsea (a) 3pm; 23 — Coventry (h) 3pm; 30 — Tottenham Hotspur (a) 3pm.

February: 6 — Aston Villa (h) 3pm; 10 — Hull City (a) 8pm; 20 — Everton (h) 3pm; 27 — Crystal Palace (a) 3pm.

March: 3 — Manchester United (h) 8pm; 13 — Brentford (h) 3pm; 20 — Arsenal (a) 3pm.

April: 10 — Ipswich Town (h) 3pm; 17 — Fulham (a) 3pm; 24 — Nottingham Forest (a) 3pm.

May: 1 — Newcastle United (h) 3pm; 8 — Brighton (a) 3pm; 15 — Bournemouth (h) 3pm; 23 — Leeds United (a) 3pm; 30 — Manchester City (h) 4pm.

All fixtures subject to change.