The Championship play-offs for the 2025-26 season will decide the third and final club to earn promotion to the Premier League, with four sides battling it out at the end of the campaign.
Which teams qualify for the Championship play-offs?
The clubs finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the Championship table qualify for the play-offs. They join the two automatic promotion places already decided by the teams finishing first and second.
How the Championship play-offs work
The semi-finals are played over two legs. The team that finishes third plays sixth, while fourth face fifth, with the higher-ranked side at home in the second leg. The winners on aggregate go through to the final, which is a one-off match at Wembley.
Championship play-offs 2026 fixtures and dates
The EFL has revealed the key play-off dates for 2026, with the semi-finals set to be played across two legs before the Wembley final later in May. The exact kick-off times and TV selections will be confirmed closer to the matches.
Championship play-offs 2026 semi-finals
The first legs will be played in May 2026, followed by the return legs a few days later. As usual, the higher-finishing side will have home advantage in the second match of each tie.
Championship play-offs 2026 final
The final will take place at Wembley Stadium in May 2026, with promotion to the Premier League on the line in what remains the richest match in English football.
Championship play-offs 2026 teams
The four teams involved will be confirmed once the regular season has finished and the final Championship table is settled. Places are reserved for the sides that end the campaign between third and sixth.
With the dates now revealed, attention will turn to the run-in as clubs fight to secure a play-off spot and keep their Premier League hopes alive.
