Spanish league 2026-27 calendar revealed: El Clásico on 25 October, season starts 15 August
The Spanish football federation announced the 2026-27 LaLiga calendar on Tuesday, with the first Clásico at Camp Nou on 25 October and the season running from 15 August to 30 May.
Draw in Madrid
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) unveiled the calendar for the 2026-27 season in a ceremony at Plaza de Colón in Madrid, transformed into a fan zone during the 2026 World Cup. The draw was presided over by RFEF president Rafael Louzán, who acknowledged "the smallest towns that also live football", and featured Málaga coach Juan Funés as its sponsor.
the smallest towns that also live football
Season structure and World Cup accommodation
LaLiga will kick off the weekend of 15-16 August, making it the first major European league to start. The competition concludes on 30 May 2027. A three-week international break runs from around 21 September to 6 October, and only one midweek round is scheduled (jornada 33, around 20-22 May). Clubs with a significant number of players reaching the World Cup semifinals or final can request a postponement of their opening fixtures to 25-27 August, or even 18-20 August.
El Clásico and headline rivalries
The first Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid is set for 25 October (jornada 10) at the Spotify Camp Nou. The return leg will be played on 9 May (jornada 35) at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Madrid derby opens on 20 September at the Metropolitano and returns on 4 April at the Bernabéu. The Catalan derby pits Espanyol against Barcelona on 3 January and Barcelona against Espanyol on 18 April. Other key regional clashes include the Basque derby (Athletic-Real Sociedad on 1 November, return on 2 May) and the Seville derby (Sevilla-Betis on 22 November, Betis-Sevilla on 7 February).
- Season kicks off with Barcelona-Athletic, Real Madrid-Real Sociedad and other first-round matches.
- First Madrid derby: Atlético vs Real Madrid at Metropolitano (jornada 7).
- El Clásico first leg: Barcelona vs Real Madrid at Camp Nou (jornada 10).
- Basque derby: Athletic vs Real Sociedad at San Mamés (jornada 11).
- Seville derby: Sevilla vs Betis at Sánchez-Pizjuán (jornada 13).
- Catalan derby and others: Espanyol vs Barcelona at RCDE Stadium (jornada 18).
- Return Seville derby: Betis vs Sevilla at La Cartuja (jornada 23).
- Return Madrid derby: Real Madrid vs Atlético at Bernabéu (jornada 30).
- Return Catalan derby: Barcelona vs Espanyol at Camp Nou (jornada 32).
- El Clásico second leg: Real Madrid vs Barcelona at Bernabéu (jornada 35).
- Final matchday: including Getafe-Barcelona and Real Madrid-Deportivo (jornada 38).
Opening and closing fixtures
The first matchday features Barcelona-Athletic Club, Real Madrid-Real Sociedad, Atlético de Madrid-Málaga, and other encounters. The newly promoted sides Racing de Santander, Deportivo de La Coruña, and Málaga return to the top flight. On the final day (30 May), Barcelona visit Getafe, Real Madrid host Deportivo, and Atlético travel to Betis.
Other competitions
The draw also covered Segunda División (Girona-Leganés as the opening highlight) and Liga F. In women's football, Barcelona face Real Madrid in the first Clásico of the season on 4 October. The federation presented schedules for futsal and all national categories in a single event.
