As the Scottish Premiership gears up for the 2025/26 season, fans are buzzing with anticipation following the release of the full fixture list on June 20, 2025. The campaign promises to be thrilling, with reigning champions Celtic aiming to extend their dominance and new Rangers boss Russell Martin set to embark on a challenging mission to reclaim the title for the Light Blues.
Celtic, under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers, will kick off their title defense at home against St Mirren on Sunday, August 3, 2025. The Hoops enter the new season with high confidence after finishing a commanding 17 points clear of Rangers last term, securing their 13th Scottish Premiership title in 14 seasons. Their opening away game will take place at Aberdeen on August 10, setting the stage for a rematch with the Scottish Cup holders, who stunned Celtic in the final last season.
Rangers, meanwhile, will start their campaign a day earlier, traveling to Fir Park to face Motherwell on Saturday, August 2, 2025. This fixture carries added significance as it coincides with the 130th anniversary of the first game played at Fir Park. It will also mark Russell Martin's first domestic league game in charge of Rangers, following his summer appointment and a trophyless previous season that sparked a major club takeover by the 49ers. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports at 5:30 PM, highlighting the keen interest in the new era at Ibrox.
Martin's first home league game will be at Ibrox against Dundee on August 9, 2025, also shown live on Premier Sports. This follows Rangers' Champions League second-qualifying-round clash against Panathinaikos, underscoring a demanding early schedule. Should Rangers progress in Europe, they could face additional fixtures, with the club having the option to request a postponement of their Scottish Premiership game against St Mirren on August 23 to better prepare for UEFA play-off rounds.
The highly anticipated first Old Firm derby of the season is slated for Sunday, August 31, 2025, at Ibrox, kicking off at noon and broadcast live on Sky Sports. This early-season clash will be a key moment for Martin as he looks to challenge Celtic's supremacy. The two Glasgow giants will meet twice more before the league split: at Celtic Park on January 3, 2026, and back at Ibrox on February 28, 2026.
Beyond the Old Firm, the fixture list features other compelling matchups. Newly promoted Falkirk will return to the top flight after 15 years, hosting Dundee United on August 3, 2025. The Dundee derby between Dundee and Dundee United is scheduled for August 30 at Dens Park, while the Edinburgh rivals Hearts and Hibernian will contest their derby at Tynecastle on the weekend of October 4, 2025. Hearts will also kick off their season at home against Aberdeen on August 4, with Derek McInnes starting his Premiership managerial tenure against one of his former clubs.
Fans should note that the league will not have a winter break for the second consecutive year due to increased European commitments. The festive period will see a slightly lighter schedule with only one midweek fixture slot, but six matches are scheduled for Saturday, December 27, including a televised Edinburgh derby at Easter Road at 12:30 PM. Following that, Celtic will travel to Fir Park on December 30 before hosting Rangers in a noon kickoff on January 3, 2026.
The league will split into top and bottom six sections after 33 games, with the final five matches running from April 25 to May 17, 2026. The final pre-split fixtures are penciled in for April 11, with St Mirren aiming to secure a fourth consecutive top-six finish when they visit Celtic Park. The season will culminate on the weekend of May 16-17, followed by the play-off finals on May 21 and 24.
Russell Martin's Rangers face a challenging schedule as they navigate domestic and European commitments. Their first match against Hearts under McInnes is set for September 13 at Ibrox, followed by consecutive away games against newly promoted Livingston and Falkirk on September 27 and October 4. Rangers will also visit Easter Road to face Hibernian on October 29 and welcome Aberdeen to Ibrox on November 1.
With the Scottish Premiership's fixtures now public, the season ahead promises drama, intense rivalries, and a battle for supremacy between Celtic's established dominance and Rangers' fresh ambitions under Martin. The early Glasgow derby at Ibrox will be a crucial barometer of the campaign's direction, with both clubs eager to assert themselves in Scotland's premier football competition.
