Key SPFL dates for 2025/26 season announced as big Premiership kick off and League Cup schedule revealed

The SPFL have announced the key dates for the 2025/26 season.

The big season kick-off can now be put in punters' diaries for the Premiership, Championship, Leagues One and League Two, as well as when the competitive action kicks off with the Premier Sports Cup group stage this summer. That starts on July 12/13 for all clubs not involved in European competition, who will be keen to hit the ground running when the league action gets underway.

The top flight and lower leagues will get underway on the weekend of 1-3 to August. The Premiership splits on April 12/13 before drawing to a close on he weekend of May 16/17. While not yet confirmed by the Scottish FA, that would suggest that next season's Scottish Cup Final will take place on Saturday 23 May 2026. Despite that being a World Cup summer and Scotland hoping to make it to another major tournament, the Premiership season won't finish any earlier.

WILLIAM HILL PREMIERSHIP

Fixture round 1

Weekend of August 2/3, 2025

Fixture round 33

Weekend of April 11/12, 2026

Fixture round 38

Weekend of May 16/17, 2026

William Hill Premiership play-off final

Thursday May 21 & Sunday May 24, 2026

William Hill Premiership play-off final

Thursday May 21 & Sunday May 24, 2026

WILLIAM HILL CHAMPIONSHIP

Fixture round 1

Weekend of August 1/2, 2025

Fixture round 36

Friday May 1, 2026

WILLIAM HILL LEAGUE 1 & WILLIAM HILL LEAGUE 2

Fixture round 1

Saturday August 2, 2025

Fixture round 36

Saturday May 2, 2026

PREMIER SPORTS CUP

Group stage

MD1: Weekend of July 12/13, 2025

MD2: Midweek of July 15/16, 2025

MD3: Weekend of July 19/20, 2025

MD4: Midweek of July 22/23, 2025

MD5: Weekend of July 26/27, 2025

Second round

Weekend of August