Key SPFL dates for 2025/26 season announced as big Premiership kick off and League Cup schedule revealed
The SPFL have announced the key dates for the 2025/26 season.
The big season kick-off can now be put in punters' diaries for the Premiership, Championship, Leagues One and League Two, as well as when the competitive action kicks off with the Premier Sports Cup group stage this summer. That starts on July 12/13 for all clubs not involved in European competition, who will be keen to hit the ground running when the league action gets underway.
The top flight and lower leagues will get underway on the weekend of 1-3 to August. The Premiership splits on April 12/13 before drawing to a close on he weekend of May 16/17. While not yet confirmed by the Scottish FA, that would suggest that next season's Scottish Cup Final will take place on Saturday 23 May 2026. Despite that being a World Cup summer and Scotland hoping to make it to another major tournament, the Premiership season won't finish any earlier.
Key dates in full
WILLIAM HILL PREMIERSHIP
Fixture round 1
Weekend of August 2/3, 2025
Fixture round 33
Weekend of April 11/12, 2026
Fixture round 38
Weekend of May 16/17, 2026
William Hill Premiership play-off final
Thursday May 21 & Sunday May 24, 2026
William Hill Premiership play-off final
Thursday May 21 & Sunday May 24, 2026
WILLIAM HILL CHAMPIONSHIP
Fixture round 1
Weekend of August 1/2, 2025
Fixture round 36
Friday May 1, 2026
WILLIAM HILL LEAGUE 1 & WILLIAM HILL LEAGUE 2
Fixture round 1
Saturday August 2, 2025
Fixture round 36
Saturday May 2, 2026
PREMIER SPORTS CUP
Group stage
MD1: Weekend of July 12/13, 2025
MD2: Midweek of July 15/16, 2025
MD3: Weekend of July 19/20, 2025
MD4: Midweek of July 22/23, 2025
MD5: Weekend of July 26/27, 2025
Second round
Weekend of August 16/17, 2025
Quarter-finals
Weekend of September 20/21, 2025
Semi-finals
Weekend of November 1/2, 2025
Final
Sunday December 14, 2025
