FA Cup Dates & Schedule: 2026-27 Season

Dates for the 2026-27 FA Cup, a knockout competition for virtually all football clubs in England and a few in Wales, have been announced.

More than 700 clubs will participate in the 2026-27 FA Cup, which is the 146th time the competition has been held. The competition begins with fully amateur clubs, and with each ensuing round, larger clubs enter the competition, always via random draw to determine who plays at home and who plays away.

For much more background, read our blog post What is the FA Cup?

And remember, Groundhopper Guides can help with tickets for Third Round Proper and beyond. Just hit that big red button at the top of the page to get started.

2026-27 FA Cup Round-by-Round Schedule

For each round, the date listed is the “main date.” Fixtures will actually be held a day before and after that date, as well.

The draw for each round will be made a day or two after the completion of the previous round.

When Do Premier League Teams Enter the FA Cup?

Premier League and Championship clubs always enter for the Third Round, which this season is over the weekend of January 9 and 10, 2027. Hence there will be no regular leagues games in either league that weekend.

This is always a much-anticipated round of the FA Cup, because big Premier League clubs often wind up playing much smaller clubs; for example, last season holders Crystal Palace were eliminated at Macclesfield, 2-1!

Qualifying Rounds Explained

The FA Cup begins with clubs that are totally amateur playing games in front of small crowds, all arranged geographically to spare clubs the travel expenses. For example, last season Pickering Town of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division defeated Penrith of the Northern League Division One, 3-2, in front a crowd of 320 people.

With each round, the winner advance to face clubs from the next step up the pyramid. Semi- and fully-professional clubs from the National League typically enter for the Fourth Qualifying Round.

How to Plan a Trip Around the FA Cup

If you want to see some FA Cup games, the first thing to decide is you want to see the excitement of bigger teams playing, the charm smaller of ones, a matchup between the two, or just go “big” for the semifinal and Final.

Here are three basic suggestions for planning an FA Cup trip:

• For guaranteed glamor and dependable scheduling, hit the semifinals or Final. The quarterfinals are hard to plan for, with limited notice and only four games.
• For small-club charm, come for the qualifying rounds in August, when the weather is great. Wherever you are in England, there will be games.
• If you want to see exciting, “Fairy-Tale” matchups, come for the First, Second or Third Round.

FA Cup FAQs

When is the FA Cup Final 2026-27?

• Saturday 22 May 2027
• Played at Wembley Stadium, London

When do Premier League clubs enter the FA Cup?

• Third Round Proper: Saturday 9-10, January 2027
• All 20 Premier League clubs and 24 Championship play that weekend.
• Third Round draw is typically made shortly after the Second Round in early December.

How many rounds are in the FA Cup?

• 14 rounds in total, from Extra Preliminary to the Final
• Qualifying phase has 6 rounds; Rounds Proper has 8 (including Semi and Final)
• Lower-league clubs must win up to 9 matches to reach Wembley

When does the FA Cup start in 2026-27?

• Extra Preliminary Round: Saturday 8 August 2026
• Only the lowest-ranked non-league clubs participate at this stage

What is the FA Cup?

• England’s primary knockout cup competition, open to all FA-affiliated clubs
• Officially branded The Emirates FA Cup (sponsored by Emirates Airlines)
• Oldest national football competition in the world, founded in 1871

Can anyone attend FA Cup matches?

• Yes — all rounds are open to the public, tickets purchased via clubs or (when available) resellers like us.
• Wembley Semi Finals and Final are bucket-list experiences for soccer travelers

Looking for FA Cup Tickets?

Groundhopper Soccer Guides sells FA Cup tickets at many Premier League, Championship and League One clubs. Fill out the form below, let us know which game(s) you would like to see, and we will get back to you soon!