When are the 2025-26 English Football League Promotion Playoffs?

When do the English Football League promotion playoffs happen in the 2025-26 season?

Final update for this season.

Each spring, a dozen clubs in the English Football League fight for promotion in playoff format. But when do the playoffs happen? And when are the promotion finals played?

Here is everything you need to know. And if you just want the dates, not the explainer, you can skip ahead.

How Does Promotion and Relegation Work in the English Football League?

The English Football League is actually three leagues: The Championship, League One and League Two. Each season, three Championship teams go up to the Premier League, three from League One go up to the Championship, and four from League Two go up to League One — all with the same number of teams dropping down in the opposite direction.

The bottom two in League Two drop down to the National League, where there is also a playoff to determine the second promoted club.

Related: All the Ups, Downs, and European Places, 2025-26 Season

In the Championship and League One, the top two go up automatically. In League Two, the top three go up automatically. And the rest is settled via a playoff.

(Deep dive: How does Promotion and Relegation Work in England?)

What is the Format of the English Football League Playoffs?

For all three divisions, it’s the same. Four teams play in two semifinals, seeded by the final table. So in the Championship and League One, #6 plays #3, and #4 plays #5. In League Two it’s the same, just with #7 v #4 and #5 v #6.

In all cases, it’s two legs, one each at each ground, with the higher-seeded team hosting the second leg.

Aggregate-score winner goes on to the final. If there’s a draw after two legs, they play extra time and possibly have a penalty shootout.

When Does the Regular English Football League Season End?

For the 2025-26 season, the English Football League season ended on May 2. The last day of the season is always an exciting day. This year, for example, the last playoff spot in the Championship changed hands multiple times over the last day.

And then it’s playoff time!

Here are the EFL Promotion Playoff Results for 2025-26

The EFL playoffs run from May 8 to 25, 2026.

Teams involved are Championship nos. 3-6, League One 3-6, and League Two 4-7. Times are UK timezone.

• Friday May 8
  • Championship: Hull City 0-0 Millwall
• Saturday, May 9
  • Championship: Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton
  • League One: Stevenage 0-1 Stockport County
  • League One: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Bradford City
• Sunday, May 10
  • League Two: Salford City 2-1 Grimsby Town
  • League Two: Notts County 1-0 Chesterfield
• Monday May 11
  • Championship: Hull City 2-0 Millwall. Millwall eliminated. (Buy Millwall tickets)
• Tuesday, May 12
  • Championship: Southampton 2-1 Middlesbrough (Buy Southampton tickets)
• Wednesday, May 13:
  • League One: Stockport County 2-0 Stevenage, Stevenage eliminated
• Thursday, May 14
  • League One: Bradford City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City eliminated.
• Friday, May 15
  • 7:15 p.m.: League Two: Salford City 2-2 Grimsby Town, Grimsby Town eliminated
  • 8 p.m.: League Two: Notts County 0-0 Chesterfield, Chesterfield eliminated

When are the 2025-26 Promotion Playoff Finals?

The promotion final of each league is played at Wembley Stadium in London. This is one reason supporters often sing about “Going to Wembley.”

Kickoff times (and teams, of course) are TBD until about a week before the game, but kickoffs are usually around 3 to 5 p.m.

May 23: Championship Playoff Final: Middlesbrough 1-0 Hull City

May 24: League One Playoff Final: Bolton Wanders 4-1 Stockport County

May 25: League Two Playoff Final: Notts County 3-0 Salford City

Looking for EFL Promotion Playoff Tickets?

Even where we can’t offer tickets, we will share what we know — including how to get tickets for the promotion finals at Wembley.

Just fill out the form below, and we will be in touch. Be sure to check your spam folder for our response.