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    Premier League

    Also known as English Premier League, EPL, the Prem

    The Premier League is the top division of English men's football, founded in 1992, with 20 clubs and three relegated to the English Football League each season.[1][2][3] Arsenal are the reigning champions after winning the 2025-26 title, and the 2026-27 season runs from 21 August 2026 to 30 May 2027.[4][5]

    Editor reviewedUpdated WikiSports
    Key facts

    The Premier League is the top tier of English men’s football. It began in 1992, and Sky Sports has broadcast it since its inception.[1] Twenty clubs compete each season. The bottom three are relegated to the English Football League (EFL), and three clubs are promoted from the Championship.[2][3] It attracts more 2026 World Cup players than any other league. NBC Sports counted 182 who played in it in 2025-26 or were set to in 2026-27.[6]

    How the competition works

    Clubs earn three points for a win and one for a draw. Ties on points are broken by goal difference, then goals scored.[7][8] The top clubs qualify for European competitions. For 2026-27, nine English clubs are in UEFA competitions.[9] From 2026-27, spending is governed by Squad Cost Ratio rules that cap squad costs at 85% of revenue, replacing the Profitability and Sustainability Rules.[10][11] How the Premier League works explains these rules in detail.

    Recent champions

    Arsenal won the 2025-26 title, clinching it on 19 May 2026, their first league title in 22 years.[4] It was Arsenal’s 14th English league title; only Liverpool and Manchester United, with 20 each, have more.[12] Before that, Manchester City had won six of the previous eight titles.[13] According to Opta Analyst, only three clubs, under three managers, have ever retained the Premier League title.[14]

    The 2026-27 season

    The season began on 21 August 2026 and ends on 30 May 2027. It has 33 weekend and five midweek rounds.[5][15] Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City were promoted.[16] Opta Analyst counted nine of the 20 clubs starting the season with new head coaches. They include Andoni Iraola at Liverpool, Enzo Maresca at Manchester City and Xabi Alonso at Chelsea.[17][18][19][20] Clubs also stopped carrying gambling sponsors on the front of match-day shirts.[21]

    As of 10 October 2026, Manchester City led the table on 15 points, level with Arsenal.[22] The live table, results and the Manchester City financial case are covered in Premier League 2026-27 tracker. Forecasts are covered in title race analysis.

    Watching the league

    In the UK, Sky Sports and TNT Sports share the live rights, and Saturday 3pm kick-offs are not shown live.[23][24][25] In the US, NBCUniversal’s platforms and USA Network carry the league.[26] See How to watch the Premier League in 2026-27 for prices and options.

    Next in the crash course

    Questions readers ask

    Who won the Premier League in 2025-26?

    Arsenal, who clinched the title on 19 May 2026 for their first league championship in 22 years.[4]

    How many teams are in the Premier League?

    Twenty. The bottom three are relegated to the English Football League each season and replaced by three promoted clubs.[2][3]

    Which teams were promoted to the Premier League for 2026-27?

    Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City. Coventry returned after 25 years and Hull after nine.[16]

    When did the Premier League start?

    The Premier League began in 1992.[1]

    Who has won the most English league titles?

    Liverpool and Manchester United, with 20 each. Arsenal's 2025-26 title was their 14th.[12]

    Sources

    · 26 claims from 12 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      The Premier League began in 1992, and Sky Sports has broadcast it since its inception. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    2. [2]

      League rules aim to keep membership at 20 clubs at the start of each season. confirmedas of 2026-07-31

    3. [3]

      The bottom three clubs at the end of the season are relegated to the English Football League (EFL). confirmedas of 2026-07-31

    4. [4]

      Arsenal won the 2025-26 Premier League, clinching the title on 19 May 2026 when Manchester City drew with Bournemouth; it was their first league title in 22 years. confirmedas of 2026-05-19

    5. [5]

      The 2026-27 Premier League season began on 21 August 2026 and its final round is scheduled for 30 May 2027, when all fixtures kick off simultaneously. confirmedas of 2026-06-18

    6. [6]

      NBC Sports said 182 players who featured at the 2026 World Cup either played in the Premier League in 2025-26 or were set to in 2026-27, more than any other league. confirmedas of 2026-07-21

    7. [7]

      Premier League rules award three points for a win and one point for a draw. confirmedas of 2026-07-31

    8. [8]

      Clubs level on points are separated by goal difference, then by goals scored. confirmedas of 2026-07-31

    9. [9]

      Nine English clubs play in UEFA competitions in 2026-27: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool in the Champions League; Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Europa League; and Brighton in the Conference League play-offs. confirmedas of 2026-08-14

    10. [10]

      From 2026-27 the Premier League replaced its Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) with Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules, voted through by clubs on 21 November 2025. confirmedas of 2025-11-21

    11. [11]

      Under SCR, clubs may spend up to 85% of revenue on squad costs: player wages, amortised transfer fees and agents' fees. confirmedas of 2025-11-21

    12. [12]

      The 2025-26 title was Arsenal's 14th English league title and their first since 2003-04; only Liverpool and Manchester United, with 20 each, have more. confirmedas of 2026-05-19

    13. [13]

      Before Arsenal's 2025-26 title, Manchester City had been champions in six of the previous eight seasons. confirmedas of 2026-05-19

    14. [14]

      According to Opta Analyst, only three clubs, under three managers, have ever successfully defended the Premier League title: Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    15. [15]

      The 2026-27 Premier League season consists of 33 weekend and five midweek match rounds. confirmedas of 2026-06-18

    16. [16]

      Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City were promoted to the Premier League for 2026-27; Coventry returned after 25 years and Hull after nine. confirmedas of 2026-08-14

    17. [17]

      Opta Analyst counted nine of the 20 Premier League clubs starting 2026-27 with new head coaches. confirmedas of 2026-08-14

    18. [18]

      Liverpool appointed Andoni Iraola as head coach on 4 June 2026, after three seasons at Bournemouth in which he led them into Europe for the first time with a sixth-place finish. confirmedas of 2026-06-04

    19. [19]

      Manchester City appointed Enzo Maresca on a three-year contract on 29 June 2026 to succeed Pep Guardiola, paying Chelsea more than £17m in compensation. confirmedas of 2026-06-29

    20. [20]

      Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as manager on a four-year contract starting 1 July 2026. confirmedas of 2026-07-01

    21. [21]

      From 2026-27, Premier League clubs agreed not to carry gambling sponsors on the front of match-day shirts. confirmedas of 2023-04-13

    22. [22]

      As of 10 October 2026, Manchester City led the Premier League with 15 points from five games, level on points with Arsenal (15 from six) and ahead of Brighton (13 from six). confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    23. [23]

      In the UK, Sky Sports shows at least 215 Premier League matches in 2026-27, including Saturday 5.30pm, Sunday 2pm and 4.30pm, and Monday and Friday evening games. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    24. [24]

      TNT Sports, streamed via HBO Max, shows at least 52 matches, mainly Saturday 12.30pm kick-offs and some midweek rounds. confirmedas of 2026-10-09

    25. [25]

      Saturday 3pm kick-offs are not broadcast live in the UK, under the long-standing "blackout" meant to protect attendances lower down the football pyramid. reportedas of 2026-10-09

    26. [26]

      In the US, NBCUniversal and Versant's USA Network carry the 2026-27 Premier League: USA Network is the cable home, NBC airs selected games, and Peacock streams exclusive matches plus every NBC game. confirmedas of 2026-07-21

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 11, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Premier League." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/premier-league

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