2026/27 Champions League: Key Dates, Format and Madrid Final

UEFA’s third season under the 36-team league-phase format is locked in.

League phase: Matchdays run from 8–10 September 2026 through 27 January 2027. The top eight advance straight to the round of 16; places 9–24 enter knockout play-offs; 25th and below are eliminated (no Europa League drop).

Knockouts: Play-offs in February, round of 16 in March, quarters in April, semis late April/early May, and the final on Saturday 5 June 2027 at Atlético Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano — the venue’s second UCL final after 2019.

Paris Saint-Germain enter as two-time defending champions.

Schedule and format summarised from UEFA.com official competition information.