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

When do the English Football League promotion playoffs happen in the 2025-26 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, thee 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:

English Promotions & Relegations, 2024-25

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 ends on May 2. In each league, all games are at the same time: Championship at 12:30 p.m., Leagues One and Two at 3 p.m. At that point (if not before), the champions and automatically-promoted clubs in each division will have been settled.

It’s an exciting day.

And then it’s playoff time!

Here are the EFL Promotion Playoff Dates for 2025-26

Here are the dates for the 2025-26 EFL promotion playoffs.

Teams involved are Championship nos. 3-6, League One 3-6, and League Two 4-7. Home team is listed first.

• Friday May 8, 8 p.m.: Championship 6 v 3, First Leg
• Saturday, May 9, 12:30 p.m.: Championship 5 v 4, First Leg
• Saturday, May 9, 3 p.m.: League One 6 v 3, First Leg
• Saturday, May 9, 8 p.m.: League One 5 v 4, First Leg
• Sunday, May 10, 3 p.m.: League Two 7 v 4, First Leg
• Sunday, May 10, 6 p.m.: League Two 6 v 5, First Leg
• Monday May 11, 8 p.m.: Championship 3 v 6, Second Leg
• Tuesday, May 12, 8 p.m.: Championship 4 v 5, Second Leg
• Wednesday, May 13, 8 p.m.: League One 3 v 6, Second Leg
• Thursday, May 14, 8 p.m.: League One 4 v 5, Second Leg
• Friday, May 15, 7:15 p.m.: League Two 4 v 7, Second Leg
• Friday, May 15, 8 p.m.: League Two 5 v 6, Second Leg

When are the 2025-26 Promotion Playoff Finals?

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

Times (and teams, of course) are TBD for right now, but kickoffs are usually around 3 to 5 p.m.

May 23: Championship Playoff Final

May 24: League One Playoff Final

May 25: League Two Playoff Final

Looking for Promotion Playoff Tickets?

Depending on who is hosting, we might be able to help! And even if not, we will share what we know.

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