As title holders Northampton will welcome Newcastle Red Bulls for the opening round of the 2026-27 Premiership rugby season.

The Saints overcame Exeter to secure the trophy for the second time in three campaigns last June and launch their new term at home on Friday 25 September.

The Chiefs also begin at home when Gloucester visit Sandy Park the next day.

Further afield Harlequins entertain Bath on Friday Sale host Bristol on Saturday evening and Leicester meet Saracens in the sole Sunday fixture.

The 2026-27 Premiership final is set for Saturday 19 June 2027 at Twickenham Allianz Stadium with the campaign featuring several pauses around international dates.

After five rounds crammed into six weeks across September and October a four-week league break follows in November for the Nations Championship autumn internationals.

European fixtures begin in December producing four Premiership rounds spread over six weeks into January followed by a ten-week pause in February and March for the Six Nations.

The new season also starts with promotion and relegation formally removed from the division.

Although no side has dropped from the Premiership or risen from the Championship since Saracens in 2020 and 2021 the change is now official after February votes on English rugby reforms that steer the league toward a franchise model.

A number of matches next term will again take place at larger venues following recent custom.

Harlequins stage their two annual Big Game fixtures at the Allianz Stadium beginning with Northampton and featuring the league first Monday night match on 28 December during the festive period.

They return to the national stadium to face Newcastle in round 15 during May.

Gloucester hope to revisit Villa Park after their first game there last season though the venue awaits confirmation.

If approved they will again meet Leicester in round 12 for the Slater Cup on the weekend of 27 March while Bristol host the Cherry and Whites at Cardiff Principality Stadium in a west country derby in round 13 three weeks later.

Simon Massie-Taylor chief executive of Prem Rugby said there is huge momentum behind the Gallagher Premiership heading into the new season after a third straight sold-out final major international investment record broadcast numbers and rising interest among younger supporters.

Following the landmark agreement to alter the operating model earlier this year we are advancing plans to expand the league by the 2029-30 season he added.