The 2026/27 Championship fixtures are out, and the clearest talking points come fast. Wolves host Blackburn in the opener on Friday, August 14, West Ham will meet Millwall for the first time since 2012 on September 19, and there will be no matches over Easter weekend because the league is paused for an international break.
The headline dates from the fixture release
The release immediately gives the division a proper first-night game. Wolves against Blackburn is a neat opening fixture, not just a filler to get the schedule moving. West Ham against Millwall is the other obvious pull, because the two sides have not met since 2012 and the derby is set for September 19.
The reverse fixture is at the London Stadium on February 20. That keeps the rivalry spread across the season rather than front-loading it into one burst, and it gives West Ham supporters a date to circle long before the spring run-in.
Easter weekend is blank for 2026/27
The other notable change is the empty Easter weekend. No Championship matches will be played there, with the league paused for an international break. That is a clear break from the usual holiday rhythm and one of the oddest parts of the schedule release.
It also means the calendar has a different feel around one of the traditional busy periods. Teams that usually expect a packed Easter stretch will not get it next season, so the run-in will have to be built around the new gap rather than the old routine.
There is a straightforward reason the fixture release has landed with more noise than most. Wolves and West Ham both come down from the Premier League, and their schedules now carry the weight that relegation brings. Wolves finished 20th with 20 points and a goal difference of -41, while West Ham ended 18th with 39 points and a goal difference of -19.
That background makes the opening dates feel more pointed than ordinary first-round draws. Wolves get Blackburn on opening night, West Ham get a derby with Millwall in September, and the Championship starts the season with two fixtures that already feel like landmarks.
The fixture list also hands the league a first-round Carabao Cup match for Championship teams on the weekend of Saturday, August 8. The league campaign itself begins a week later, with the more obvious focus on Wolves, West Ham and the Easter weekend pause.
FAQ
When do Wolves start their Championship season?
Wolves host Blackburn in the Championship opener on Friday, August 14. It is one of the headline dates from the fixture release and gives the new season an immediate focal point.
Why is West Ham v Millwall getting so much attention?
West Ham will meet Millwall for the first time since 2012, with the derby set for September 19. The reverse fixture is at the London Stadium on February 20.
Why are there no Championship matches over Easter weekend?
No matches will be played across the Easter weekend next year because the league will be paused for an international break. The usual holiday slate has been removed for the 2026/27 fixture release.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →