The Champions League draw for the 2025/26 edition will arrange the first eight games of the participants.
Dominant French champions Paris Saint-Germain will defend their 5-0 win over Inter in the 2024/25 final.
In Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur will join the Premier League and runner-up and will join the runner-up.
Here is what you need to know about Champions League draws, including when to happen, future draws and a fixed schedule for 2025/26.
When will the Champions League draw?
The draw will be held on Thursday, August 28 – the day after the playoff tie ends to determine the final team qualification.
The draw ceremony will begin at 17:00 BST / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT.
How to watch Champions League draw: TV channel, live broadcast
The draw will be live on uefa.com and UEFA’s YouTube channel and BBC Sport’s website and iPlayer.
TNT Sports will also broadcast the draw via Discovery+ and YouTube.
Champions League format
From the previous group stage format to the change in 2023/24, each team now plays eight games in the league stage, all teams against different opponents.
Four of these matches will be at home, and four matches will be determined on four seeders based on rankings.
The team will play two opponents in each pot – one against each pot at home, one opponent. The results determine the overall ranking of an alliance.
The top eight on the table automatically participated in 16 rounds. Teams in ninth to 24 will play in the knockout stage playoffs of the two-legged to reach the final 16 games.
The team ranked 25th or lower in the season withdrew from Europe in Europe.
Champions League timetable, fixtures 2025/26
The new league stage continues until the end of January, with the playoffs in February, and the remaining knockout stages are ahead of the finals held from March to early May.
Match Day 1: September 16-18 2025
Match Day 2: September 30 to October 1, 2025
Match Day 3: October 21, 2025
Match Day 4: November 4/5 2025
Match Day 5: November 25, 2025
Match Day 6: December 9/10 2025
Match Day 7: January 20, 2026
Match Day 8: January 28, 2026
When will the Champions League knockout match be?
Knockout stage playoffs: February 17 and 24/25 2026
16 rounds: March 10/11 & 17/18 2026
Quarter Finals: April 7/8 & 14/15 2026
Semi-finals: April 28 and May 6, 2026
Final: May 30, 2026 (Budapest)
When will the Champions League score?
The third round of qualifying match: July 21, 2025
Playoffs: August 4, 2025
Alliance Stage: August 28, 2025
Knockout stage playoffs: January 30, 2026
Round 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals: February 27, 2026
Champions League British team: Why are there six clubs?
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle all fit into the top five in the Premier League.
There are five places for the UK team, as additional positions are awarded based on UEFA’s classmate rankings, which are based on the overall performance of European competing countries in a season.
The Spurs are eligible to be the Europa League champion, despite losing 22 and winning only 11 games in the 2024/25 league and finishing 17th.
When will the Champions League final?
The final will be held on May 30, 2026 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, which opened in 2019 and is home to the Hungarian national team.
The Arena held the dramatic 2022/23 Europa League final, when Sevilla beat Roma 1-1 after overtime.
