The Premier League has officially unveiled the fixtures for the 2025-26 season, setting the stage for another thrilling campaign across England's top flight. Arsenal, fresh off finishing as runners-up in the last three seasons, face a daunting start that will test their mettle from the get-go. Mikel Arteta's Gunners will kick off their quest for a first league title since 2004 with a high-profile trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. BST.
This opening weekend clash is arguably the standout fixture, pitting last season's second-place Arsenal against a Manchester United side that struggled mightily, finishing 15th. The game also marks a significant moment for United's manager Ruben Amorim, who faces an uphill battle to steady his squad after a tough previous campaign.
Following their trip to Manchester, Arsenal return home to the Emirates to host newly promoted Leeds United on August 23, before embarking on another challenging away trip to Liverpool's Anfield on August 30. The first month of the season is packed with intensity, as Arsenal also welcome Nottingham Forest on September 13 and Manchester City on September 20, before traveling to Newcastle United on September 27. This sequence of fixtures includes four of last season’s top seven teams in their opening six games, highlighting the demanding nature of Arsenal’s early schedule.
These fixtures come at a critical time as Arsenal also prepare for their Champions League campaign, with the league phase draw set for August 28. The Champions League group stage begins the week of September 16-18, coinciding with Arsenal’s home clash against Manchester City. This dual challenge of domestic and European football will require squad depth and resilience from the Gunners.
Arsenal's Premier League campaign will feature two eagerly anticipated North London derbies against Tottenham Hotspur. The first is scheduled for November 22 at the Emirates, followed by the return fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 21, 2026. Both matches will be pivotal in the battle for local bragging rights and could have significant implications for the title race and European qualification spots.
The Gunners will also face London rivals Chelsea twice, with away fixtures on November 29 and a home game on February 28, 2026, immediately following the North London derbies. These London clashes add another layer of intensity to Arsenal's season.
Arsenal's schedule includes a relatively kind festive period, with no Boxing Day fixture; instead, they play Brighton & Hove Albion at home on December 27. They also enjoy a break on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with matches against Aston Villa and Bournemouth scheduled for December 30 and January 3, respectively. This slight respite could prove beneficial for player recovery amid a congested calendar.
Looking ahead to the final stretch, Arsenal's last five league games are all London or nearby fixtures, including home matches against Newcastle United, Fulham, and Burnley, as well as short trips to West Ham United and Crystal Palace, with the final game on May 24, 2026. This run could offer a strategic advantage if the title race remains tight, minimizing travel fatigue.
Across the league, other top clubs face their own challenges. Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, open their season at Anfield against AFC Bournemouth on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET. They then travel to Newcastle and host Arsenal in their first three games. Liverpool's early fixtures also include a Merseyside derby against Everton and tough matches against Manchester United and Chelsea by mid-October.
Manchester City, fresh from competing in the Club World Cup, begin their campaign with a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 16, 2025. Their first five games include clashes with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Arsenal, setting up a high-stakes early season. City face a challenging spell in early 2026, with five of eight games against top opposition from January 3 onward.
Tottenham Hotspur, under new manager Thomas Frank, start with a home game against newly promoted Burnley on August 16, followed by a trip to Manchester City. Spurs face a particularly tough run in November, with consecutive games against Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal, testing Frank’s squad depth and tactical acumen.
Meanwhile, newly promoted Sunderland begin their top-flight return with a home match against West Ham United on August 16, 2025, followed by a trip to Burnley. Their early schedule offers a chance to build momentum before facing top-tier teams later in the season.
Manchester United have been handed the toughest start to the season, according to Opta, with an average opposition rating of 94.9 in their opening fixtures. After suffering 18 defeats last season, the Red Devils will be eager to reverse their fortunes, starting with the high-profile Arsenal clash.
Everton will inaugurate their new Hill Dickinson Stadium with a home game against Brighton on August 23, 2025. Their first five home games are against Brighton, Aston Villa, West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Tottenham, providing a relatively manageable schedule to settle into their new surroundings.
The Premier League season kicks off over the weekend of August 15-17, 2025, with 33 rounds of weekend fixtures and five midweek rounds. The campaign will conclude on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with all ten final games kicking off simultaneously. This scheduling ensures a thrilling climax to the season as teams battle for titles, European spots, and survival.
Fans in the United States will be able to catch all 380 Premier League matches across NBC’s platforms, including NBC, USA, and Peacock, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the action-packed season.
As the 2025-26 season unfolds, all eyes will be on Arsenal to see if they can finally break their runners-up hoodoo and claim the Premier League crown. With a challenging opening run and a packed schedule that tests their squad’s depth, Mikel Arteta’s side will need to hit the ground running and maintain consistency to achieve their long-awaited dream.
