In a new move for the 2026/27 season, the Premier League have confirmed the fixture calendar and broadcast schedule for the Christmas and New Year periods early, with four Chelsea games having new dates and/or kick-off times.
This announcement comes after the Premier League and its broadcast partners agreed to bring forward the selection process for live UK matches across match rounds 17 to 20, which run from 26 December to 7 January.
This gives supporters more than three months’ notice to plan and make travel arrangements for a particularly busy time of the year, and follows consultation with the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards.
Chelsea’s first game after Christmas will be away against Frank Lampard’s Coventry City. It will now take place on Sunday 27 December with a 2pm kick-off time.
Next up we travel to Portman Road to play another newly-promoted side, Ipswich Town. That fixture remains on Wednesday 30 December but with a new, later kick-off time of 8.15pm.
Our solitary home match in this four-game period is against Newcastle United. That will now take place on Sunday 3 January with a 2pm start.
Then it is a short journey south of the river to Selhurst Park, to play Crystal Palace. That game is still on Wednesday 6 January but now has an earlier start time of 7.30pm.
All four matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Broadcast selections for match rounds in November are due to be announced by the week commencing 21 September, and the remaining match rounds in December will be announced by the week commencing 19 October.
Chelsea’s Christmas and New Year fixture schedule
Coventry City (a) – Sunday 27 December, 2pm
Ipswich Town (a) – Wednesday 30 December, 8.15pm
Newcastle United (h) – Sunday 3 January, 2pm
Crystal Palace (a) – Wednesday 6 January, 7.30pm