Champions League 2025/26: Start Dates and New Format Details

When Does the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Begin?

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League introduces a fresh format that changes Europe’s top club competition. The familiar group stage is gone, replaced by an innovative league phase that guarantees more matches, new rivalries, and heightened excitement across the continent.

Paris Saint-Germain enters as the defending champion, while Tottenham Hotspur joins as the UEFA Europa League winner. A total of 36 clubs will compete for the trophy, culminating in the final held in Budapest.

Schedule of the League Phase

The league phase includes eight matchdays where teams face different opponents:

• Matchday 1: September 16–18, 2025
• Matchday 2: September 30–October 1, 2025
• Matchday 3: October 21–22, 2025
• Matchday 4: November 4–5, 2025
• Matchday 5: November 25–26, 2025
• Matchday 6: December 9–10, 2025
• Matchday 7: January 20–21, 2026
• Matchday 8: January 28, 2026

Top-ranked teams will go straight to the Round of 16, while those in mid-table must compete in knockout play-offs.

Knockout Phase and Final

The knockout rounds follow the league phase with these dates:

• Knockout Play-offs: February 17–18 and 24–25, 2026
• Round of 16: March 10–11 and 17–18, 2026
• Quarterfinals: April 7–8 and 14–15, 2026
• Semifinals: April 28–29 and May 5–6, 2026
• Final: May 30, 2026 at Puskás Aréna, Budapest

This marks the first Champions League final held at Hungary’s national stadium, which hosted the 2023 Europa League final before.

Important Draw Dates

The draw timetable is set as follows:

• First Qualifying Round Draw: June 17, 2025
• Second Qualifying Round Draw: June 18, 2025
• Third Qualifying Round Draw: July 21, 2025
• Play-offs Draw: August 4, 2025
• League Phase Draw: August 28, 2025
• Knockout Play-offs Draw: January 30, 2026
• Round of 16 to Final Draws: February 27, 2026

A New Era for the Champions League

The revamped format promises extra games and intense moments from the outset. Big names like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and reigning champs PSG will battle for European glory in Budapest.