Boxing Day Is Back, Baby: Premier League Restores the Festive Football Feast

Forget the tinsel — the Premier League just delivered the ultimate Christmas gift: the return of proper Boxing Day football. Seven matches. One chaotic day. The festive football feast is officially back.

Last year, the holiday calendar had the personality of a lump of coal — just one lonely game between Manchester United and Newcastle. But on Thursday, the league confirmed the traditional Boxing Day bonanza is back for the 2026-27 season, with Manchester City's trip to St. James' Park to face Newcastle headlining the set.

THE FULL FESTIVE FIXTURE LIST

The football starts at 12:30 PM GMT as Aston Villa host Leeds. Then comes a 3 PM quadruple threat, with Everton vs Sunderland, Fulham vs Brighton, Ipswich vs Brentford, and Tottenham vs Bournemouth all kicking off simultaneously. At 5:30 PM, Hull welcome Liverpool, before the marquee clash: City at Newcastle at 8 PM.

The chaos continues on Sunday, Dec. 27, with Coventry vs Chelsea, Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest, and Arsenal vs Crystal Palace. And because holiday football is a marathon, not a sprint, there's another round on Dec. 29-30 — because who needs family time anyway?

Last year's Boxing Day shortage was blamed on the “expansion of European club competitions” and the need for at least 33 matchweeks to take place on weekends. But this year, with Boxing Day falling on a Saturday, the league managed to keep the fixtures without eating into the five-round midweek limit.

The league also announced the fixture list more than three months in advance, after consulting with the Football Supporters' Association and club Fan Advisory Boards — a nod to fans who need to book trains and prepare livers. And there's a commitment to at least 60 hours between each club's fixtures during the holiday period, because even the most festive players need some rest.

So mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get the mince pies ready. Boxing Day football is officially back.