EFL confirm 2025/26 season schedule as Derby County bid to avoid relegation

The EFL has unveiled the key dates for the 2025/26 season, as Derby County gear up for their final seven matches of this campaign, aiming to secure their place in the Championship once more.

The League One and League Two seasons are set to commence on the weekend of August 1 to 3, while the Championship will kick off a week later, from August 8-10.

Should the Rams avoid relegation, they can expect their 46 league matches to be spread across 33 weekends, nine mid-weeks and four Bank Holidays.

Notably, League One continues to schedule games during international breaks, although these can be rearranged depending on player call-ups.

Fixture announcements for all three divisions will be made at 9am on Thursday, June 26, live on DerbyshireLive.

This day will also see the draws for the first round of the Carabao Cup and the group stage of the Vertu Trophy, both of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The Carabao Cup is slated to begin in mid-August, culminating in a final on March 22, 2026, while the Vertu Trophy will start in September, with its final scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026, reports Stoke on Trent Live.

The regular season is due to wrap up on the weekend of May 2 and 3, 2026. The Championship play-off final will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, followed by the League One play-off final on May 24.

Currently, the Rams have performed a miraculous turnaround and while a couple of months ago they looked down and out, they have now escaped the relegation zone after four wins in a row.

They are now in 20th position after Wednesday night's win over Preston, but still only one point above the drop zone as they head into this weekend's game with Swansea City.

Are the Rams staying up? Have your say here

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