UEFA Europa League · 2026/27
Europa League 2026/27
Aston Villa begin their title defence, 36 clubs and a summer of qualifying stand between here and Frankfurt on May 26, 2027. Thursday nights, on your clock.
This week in the Europa League
Qualifying rounds — times in your timezoneQualifying continues all summer: Q2 legs July 23 & 30 · Q3 August 6 & 13 · playoff round August 20 & 27. The winners join the automatic entries at the Monaco draw.
Key dates — 2026/27 Europa League
Verified against UEFA's published calendar. Tap + Cal to save a date.
| Stage | When | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying rounds | Jul 9 – Aug 27, 2026 — under way now | |
| League phase draw — Monaco | Fri Aug 28, 2026 | |
| Matchday 1 | Sep 16–17, 2026 | |
| Matchday 2 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Matchday 3 | Oct 22, 2026 | |
| Matchday 4 | Nov 5, 2026 | |
| Matchday 5 | Nov 26, 2026 | |
| Matchday 6 | Dec 10, 2026 | |
| Matchday 7 | Jan 21, 2027 | |
| Matchday 8 | Jan 28, 2027 | |
| Knockout playoffs | Feb 18 & 25, 2027 | |
| Round of 16 | Mar 11 & 18, 2027 | |
| Quarter-finals | Apr 8 & 15, 2027 | |
| Semi-finals | Apr 29 & May 6, 2027 | |
| Final — Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt | Wed May 26, 2027 |
League phase table
Live once Matchday 1 kicks offThe 36-team table lands here when the league phase starts on September 16, 2026. Until then, qualifying above decides who's in.
The UEFA Cup / Europa League roll of honour
Titles, 1972–2026Sevilla's seven titles are the competition record. Fitting twist for 2027: the final is at Eintracht Frankfurt's own Deutsche Bank Park.
The holders
Aston Villa won their first Europa League on May 20, 2026, beating SC Freiburg 3-0 at Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul — Villa's first European trophy since the 1982 European Cup. They enter the 2026/27 Champions League; the Europa field chases the trophy they left behind.
Where to watch
Common questions
When does the 2026/27 Europa League start?
Qualifying runs through the summer (Q1 July 9 & 16, Q2 July 23 & 30, Q3 August 6 & 13, playoffs August 20 & 27). The league phase draw is August 28, 2026 in Monaco, and Matchday 1 is September 16-17, 2026. The final is in Frankfurt on May 26, 2027.
Who are the current holders?
Aston Villa — they beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in the 2026 final in Istanbul on May 20, 2026, the club's first Europa League title.
How does the league phase work?
Like the Champions League: 36 clubs in one table, eight games each. Top 8 straight to the Round of 16; 9th–24th into a two-legged February playoff; bottom 12 out.
Where is the 2027 Europa League final?
At Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday May 26, 2027 — Eintracht Frankfurt's home ground.
What nights are Europa League games?
Mostly Thursdays, typically 18:45 and 21:00 CET — 12:45pm and 3pm US Eastern. Every kickoff above is converted to your device's timezone (—) automatically.
More on Matchday
Champions League 2026/27 hub → · Today's live scores → · World Cup 2026 archive →