Cardiff City will host Wrexham in a Championship derby on the opening Monday night of the 2026/27 EFL season after fixtures were released on Thursday.

The all-Wales clash is scheduled for Monday, 17 August, with an 8pm kick-off. It will be the first league meeting between Cardiff and Wrexham in 24 years.

It is the first time in 45 years that Wales will have three sides in the second tier of English football, since the 1980-81 campaign featured Cardiff, Wrexham and Swansea in the old Division Two.

“A Welsh rivalry to kick off our second season in the Championship is a great way to start the campaign, and we can’t wait to see all our fantastic supporters at Cardiff City Stadium on 17 August,” said Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

For Wrexham, the fixture list offers no easy start. Having narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season, Phil Parkinson’s side must travel to Cardiff City Stadium before they have settled into life in the Championship.

They follow up that opener with home fixtures against Watford and Birmingham City, before travelling to Millwall and then facing Swansea City on 5 September.

Cardiff’s early schedule also includes a trip to Derby County and a home clash with Sheffield United before the end of August.

The Welsh derbies continue beyond the opening weekend. Swansea City host Wrexham on 5 September, with the reverse fixture in north Wales on 10 April. The South Wales derby returns too, with Swansea hosting Cardiff on 28 November and the return at Cardiff City Stadium on 13 March. All three Welsh clubs meeting twice each produces six all-Welsh Championship derbies across the campaign.

Swansea begin their own season away from home. Alan Sheehan’s side open at Stoke City on Saturday, 15 August, before hosting Sheffield United the following weekend.

In League Two, Newport County – who survived relegation on the final day of 2025/26 – open at home before travelling to Bristol Rovers the following weekend.

The festive period brings a trip to Exeter City on Boxing Day and a home game against Barnet on New Year’s Day, with the season concluding away at Walsall on 8 May.

The competitive campaign begins one week before the league season, with the Carabao Cup first round on 7-9 August.

There are no Easter fixtures this season due to an international break.

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