Our EFL key dates guide provides an overview of the 2025/26 EFL season. With home and away matches now scheduled, teams are working diligently to complete their pre-season preparations in July.
In addition to this, the summer transfer window has been busy, and we anticipate significant signings and departures as the countdown to the beginning of the new EFL football calendar continues.
So, the big question is: When is the 2025/26 campaign starting? This post explores all the EFL key dates and updates in advance.
What and when is Fixture Release Day for EFL?
The English Football League (EFL) is a system of three divisions in the English football pyramid: Championship, League One, and League Two. EFL is responsible for all fully professional leagues in English football, except for the Premier League, which will release its fixture list on a different date.
So, Fixture Release Day is the day on which all fixtures for the upcoming EFL season are released, i.e. the day when we get a full schedule for all three divisions that are a part of the EFL. This year, the Fixture Release Day for the 2025/26 EFL season was on Thursday, 26 June 2025.
🗓️ Get all of your Club's 2025/26 fixtures direct to your ECAL! 📱#EFL | #EFLFixtureReleaseDay
— EFL (@EFL) June 26, 2025
Does Fixture Release Day include the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy?
In addition to the three divisions we mentioned above, the EFL is also responsible for the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) and the Vertu Trophy (EFL Trophy).
So, Fixture Release Day also includes draws for these two competitions, i.e. the Vertu Trophy Group Stage (at 2:30 pm) and the Round One of the Carabao Cup (at 4:30pm).
How to access the fixtures?
If you're interested in getting the full away guide for 2025/26 EFL, check our posts with EFL key dates below.
- Championship fan guide to away matches for the 2025/26 season.
- League One fan guide to away matches for the 2025/26 season.
- League Two fan guide to away matches for the 2025/26 season.
You can also sync your calendar with the EFL's ECALs, which will allow all the fixtures to drop into your calendar. For additional information, check EFL.com for all the key dates and exclusive content.
When will the 2025/26 EFL season start?
The 2025/26 EFL season will officially begin over the weekend of 1-3 August with League One and League Two matches, while the first round of the Championship will be played the weekend after.
The first round of the Carabao Cup will be played during the week of 11 August, while the Vertu Trophy Group Stage will start with the first round played during the week of 1 September.
🏆 The Round One draw 👇#EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/7SLqH8yXlt
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) June 26, 2025
EFL key dates 2025/26
Summer transfer window:
- Open: 1 June to 10 June (7:00 pm)
- Close: 10 June (7:01 pm) to 16 June (12:01 am)
- Re-open: 16 June to 1 September (7:00 pm)