2026/27 Europa League Schedule: Dates, Draws, Format and Final
The 2026/27 UEFA Europa League will be the 56th season of Europe’s secondary club competition and the third edition played under the current league phase format.
The competition begins on July 9, 2026, and concludes with the final in Frankfurt on May 26, 2027. All dates remain subject to change.
How Europa League Qualification Works in 2026/27
Twelve teams qualify directly for the league phase, while another place is reserved for the UEFA Conference League title holders.
A further 12 teams reach the league phase through the qualifying rounds and play-offs. Eleven additional clubs drop into the Europa League from the Champions League third qualifying round and play-offs.
This process creates a 36-team league phase.
Teams enter the competition at different stages according to their association club coefficient rankings. All qualifying ties are played over two legs.
When are the 2026/27 Europa League qualifying rounds and play-offs?
The Europa League qualifying campaign consists of three qualifying rounds followed by the play-offs.
First qualifying round: July 9 and 16, 2026
Second qualifying round: July 23 and 30, 2026
Third qualifying round: August 6 and 13, 2026
Play-offs: August 20 and 27, 2026
The play-offs determine the final teams that will compete in the league phase.
When are the league phase matches in the 2026/27 Europa League?
The 2026/27 Europa League league phase features 36 teams.
Each club plays eight matches against different opponents, with four games at home and four away.
Matchday 1: September 16/17, 2026
Matchday 2: October 15, 2026
Matchday 3: October 22, 2026
Matchday 4: November 5, 2026
Matchday 5: November 26, 2026
Matchday 6: December 10, 2026
Matchday 7: January 21, 2027
Matchday 8: January 28, 2027
The top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16.
Teams finishing ninth through 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs.
The 12 teams finishing from 25th to 36th are eliminated.
When are the 2026/27 Europa League knockout phase matches?
The knockout phase begins in February 2027.
Knockout phase play-offs: February 18 and 25, 2027
Round of 16: March 11 and 18, 2027
Quarter-finals: April 8 and 15, 2027
Semi-finals: April 29 and May 6, 2027
Final: May 26, 2027
The knockout rounds are played over two legs through the semi-finals. The Europa League final is a single-match event.
When are the 2026/27 Europa League draws?
The draw schedule begins during the qualifying campaign and continues with the league phase draw.
First qualifying round draw: June 16, 2026
Second qualifying round draw: June 17, 2026
Third qualifying round draw: July 20, 2026
Play-off round draw: August 3, 2026
League phase draw: August 28, 2026
The dates for the knockout phase draws have not yet been confirmed.
They are expected to take place in late January and late February 2027.
When Is the 2027 Europa League Final?
The 2026/27 UEFA Europa League final will be played on Wednesday, May 26, 2027.
The final will take place at the Waldstadion, also known as Deutsche Bank Park, in Frankfurt, Germany.
The stadium is the home of Eintracht Frankfurt and will host the decisive match of the 2026/27 Europa League campaign.
Where Is the 2027 Europa League Final?
Venue: Waldstadion, Deutsche Bank Park
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Date: Wednesday, May 26, 2027
The Frankfurt final will bring the 2026/27 Europa League season to a close after the qualifying rounds, league phase and knockout stages.
2026-27 Europa League Format
The Europa League continues with the league phase format introduced in the 2024/25 season.
A total of 36 teams compete in the league phase, with every club playing eight matches against different opponents.
After the league phase, the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16. Clubs finishing ninth through 24th compete in the knockout phase play-offs for the remaining round of 16 places.
The bottom 12 teams are eliminated.
The knockout rounds then continue with two-legged ties through the quarter-finals and semi-finals before the competition reaches its single-match final.
2026/27 Europa League Key Dates
The 2026/27 Europa League campaign starts with the first qualifying round on July 9, 2026.
The league phase begins in September and runs through January 2027. The knockout phase starts in February, with the final scheduled for May 26, 2027, in Frankfurt.
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