Scottish Football Calendar
2026/27 Scottish Premiership Fixtures Revealed: Sky Sports to Broadcast All Opening Weekend Matches Live
Key Points
The articles provide specific kick-off times for multiple opening-weekend fixtures: Dundee’s trip to Celtic (Monday, 7:30pm), Hibernian’s opener vs Motherwell (Sunday, 4:30pm), Kilmarnock’s opener at St Johnstone (Sunday, 2:00pm), and Kilmarnock’s first home match vs Celtic on Aug. 9 (1:30pm).
Celtic’s early-season European schedule is detailed: they have a League Cup game on Aug. 15/16 before the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie, and they can request postponement of their Aug. 22 Premiership match vs St Johnstone to prepare for the Champions League play-off tie’s second leg on Aug. 25/26.
Hibernian’s continental workload is also spelled out: they will play their Conference League second qualifying round before the league season begins, and—if they progress—the first leg of their third-round tie is scheduled for Aug. 6, with the return leg a week later (Aug. 13). A Premiership game vs Rangers is scheduled to fall between those two European matches.
For Hibernian, the article specifies key dates in their early league rhythm and Old Firm run: the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle on Boxing Day is preceded by Hibs hosting Hearts on Sept. 2, and the Old Firm double-header arrives in early December (Sat. Dec. 5 and Sat. Dec. 12).
Scottish football has a new landmark moment. For the first time ever, all six Scottish Premiership opening-weekend matches will be shown live on Sky Sports, according to SPFL Official. SPFL CEO Neil Doncaster called it "a first for Scottish football." The 2026/27 season gets underway on July 31 and runs through August 3, with Celtic's flag day — their first home match as defending champions — kicking off at 7:30pm on Monday, August 3 against Dundee at Celtic Park.
Martin O'Neill, confirmed as Celtic's permanent manager on June 11 at age 74, will face newly appointed Rangers boss Derek McInnes for the first time on September 20 at Celtic Park. Celtic have already voiced frustration over the Monday slot, Daily Record reports, citing police resource conflicts caused by Commonwealth Games events and back-to-back Calvin Harris concerts at Hampden Park. Kick-off was moved 30 minutes earlier — from 8:00pm to 7:30pm — to help travelling fans make connections.
Sky Sports Locks In Every Game From Day One
Sky Sports will broadcast 60 live Premiership matches this season. The opening weekend alone accounts for six of those, spread across two days with staggered kick-off times designed for TV. On August 2, St Johnstone host Kilmarnock at 2:00pm, then Hibernian face Motherwell at 4:30pm. The slate wraps on August 3 with Celtic vs Dundee at 7:30pm, all live according to Sky Sports.
The season actually opens on July 31 with Dundee United hosting Rangers at Tannadice — the first time those two clubs have met on an opening weekend in 39 years, since 1987. August 1 adds Aberdeen vs Hearts (5:30pm) and Falkirk vs St Mirren (3:00pm). Kilmarnock's first home match, versus Celtic on August 9, is also in front of the cameras at 1:30pm.
European Fixtures Force Early Fixture Juggling
Celtic face a packed August. They play a League Cup tie on August 15 or 16, then a Champions League play-off first leg around August 18 or 19. Their Premiership match against newly promoted St Johnstone — scheduled for August 22 — can be postponed on request, giving the club room to prepare for the second leg on August 25 or 26, according to Daily Record.
Hibernian face a similarly tight squeeze. Their Conference League second qualifying round falls before the league even starts. If they progress, their third-round first leg is August 6 — just four days after their August 2 opener against Motherwell. The return leg follows on August 13. Sandwiched in between is a Premiership trip to Rangers on August 9, creating a punishing three-game, two-competition stretch inside eight days.
Old Firm and Derby Dates Spread Across the Calendar
The Old Firm clash between Celtic and Rangers is staggered at three points in the season. The first meeting is September 20 at Celtic Park (12:00pm). The sides meet again on Boxing Day, then at Parkhead on February 27. Celtic's O'Neill faces Rangers boss Derek McInnes, who took the Ibrox job after guiding Hearts to a near-title finish last season, according to Daily Record.
The Dundee Derby runs on a similar three-peak pattern. Dundee visit Dundee United at Tannadice on August 22, host the return at Dens Park on January 2, and then travel back to Tannadice on March 13. Hibernian's Edinburgh Derby sees Hibs host Hearts on September 2, travel to Tynecastle on Boxing Day, and meet again on April 10 in the final pre-split fixture, according to The Edinburgh Reporter.
Promoted St Johnstone and a New-Look Rangers Enter the Picture
St Johnstone are back in the top flight after winning the Championship. They open at home to Kilmarnock on August 2 before facing Celtic early in their campaign. Livingston were relegated to make room. Rangers, meanwhile, are under entirely new management. Danny Rohl left for RB Salzburg, and Derek McInnes stepped in after his strong run with Hearts, according to Daily Record.
Celtic are the reigning champions with their 56th top-flight title. O'Neill won the league in his first stint at the club decades ago and claimed a domestic Double as interim boss last May. One cloud heading into the season is an internal dispute over the permanent contracts of coaches Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, with reports of a board-versus-manager standoff over pay, according to Daily Record.
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