Premier League and Championship to pause over Easter in 2027

No top-flight or Championship matches across Easter weekend
International window runs from March 22 to 30
September and October breaks to merge from 2026-27

There will be no matches from England’s top two divisions across Easter weekend in 2027 after FIFA confirmed the dates for next season’s March international window.

The break will run from March 22 to 30, covering both Good Friday on March 26 and Easter Monday two days later. As a result, there will be no fixtures in either the Premier League or the EFL Championship over the Easter weekend.

In recent seasons, the Premier League has typically staged one round of matches across Easter, while Championship clubs have often played on both Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Clubs in EFL League One and EFL League Two are expected to play during the period, although some fixtures could be postponed due to international call-ups.

Fans will get a preview of the change this season, with no Premier League games scheduled for Easter weekend as all four FA Cup quarter-finals take place instead. The Championship, however, will stage a full round of matches on April 3 and April 6.

This season’s March international break runs from March 23 to 31, ending three days before Easter weekend. During that window, England national football team are set to play friendlies against Uruguay national football team and Japan national football team at Wembley Stadium.

The Easter disruption will not be the only significant alteration to the football calendar from the 2026-27 campaign.

FIFA has confirmed that the September and October international breaks will be merged. Instead of two separate windows featuring two matches each, nations will now play four matches across a single two-week period.

For the 2026-27 season, that extended window will run from September 21 to October 6, five weeks after the new Premier League campaign begins on August 22, 2026.

The November (November 9 to 17) and March (March 22 to 30) international breaks will remain unchanged at two matches each, while another two-match window is scheduled for June 7 to 15.

England will begin their next UEFA Nations League campaign during one of the upcoming windows as the new schedule takes effect.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.