Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Championship Playoffs

The Championship playoffs for 2026 are on the horizon, providing a thrilling conclusion to the English Championship season. This league, known for its competitiveness, features 24 teams striving for promotion to the Premier League. The end-of-season playoff system, introduced to the English Football League (EFL) in 1987, has evolved into a format where the four clubs finishing just outside the automatic promotion positions compete for the last coveted spot in the top division.

The playoff stage is arguably the most exhilarating part of the Championship season, where these four teams vie for the final promotion opportunity. Here, we delve into the essentials of the 2026 Championship playoffs, including viewing options, the operational format, and pertinent details.

**What Are the Championship Playoffs?**
The Championship playoffs serve as a decisive showdown following the regular season, determining which club earns the final ticket to the Premier League. After 46 league matches, the top two teams secure direct promotion, while those finishing third through sixth enter a high-pressure playoff bracket to compete for the remaining spot.

**How Do the Championship Playoffs Work?**
The quest for a playoff berth is always intense in this unpredictable league, with the stakes heightening remarkably during the playoffs. The playoffs involve the four teams finishing just below the automatic promotion places, competing in a knockout format. The semi-finals pit the third-placed team against the sixth, and the fourth against the fifth. Each tie consists of two legs, with the higher-placed team enjoying the advantage of hosting the decisive second leg.

Winners are determined by the aggregate score over both legs, with no away-goals rule in effect. If scores are level after the second leg, the match goes to extra time, and, if necessary, penalties will decide the winner. The winners of both semi-finals will then advance to the playoff final, held at Wembley Stadium. If the final ends in a draw, extra time and penalties will be employed to find a victor, who will secure a spot in the Premier League for the following season.

**Which Teams Have Qualified for the 2026 Championship Playoffs?**
Four teams qualify for the Championship playoffs, with their standings in the league pivotal to their playoff positions. The top teams in the Championship as of now are:

1. Coventry – 51 points
2. Middlesbrough – 58 points
3. Stoke City – 53 points
4. Preston – 57 points
5. Hull City – 56 points
6. Millwall – 54 points

**Where to Watch the Championship Playoffs 2026**
In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports will broadcast all Championship playoff matches, with Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football as the primary channels. For online streaming, viewers can access the games via Sky GO. In the United States, playoffs will be available on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+, which is currently offering a 7-day trial for new subscribers.

**When Are the 2026 Championship Playoffs?**
The specific dates for the 2025-26 Championship playoff semi-finals are yet to be confirmed but are anticipated to take place within two weeks following the conclusion of the regular season, which ends on the weekend of May 2-3, 2026. The Championship Playoff Final is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026, where one club will claim the final Premier League spot.

**Final Match Details**
– **Date:** Saturday, May 23, 2026
– **Kick-off Time:** TBD
– **Venue:** Wembley Stadium, London

Wembley Stadium, known for its iconic stature in British sports, will host the 2026 Championship play-off final. This 90,000-capacity venue is affectionately referred to as ‘The Home of Football’ and is the site of numerous national finals, including the Football League playoffs and FA Cup.

**Recent Champions of the Championship Playoffs**
In 2025, Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship playoff final, overturning a late deficit with two second-half goals and celebrating their first top-flight appearance since the 2016-17 season.

**The Financial Impact of Winning the Championship Playoffs**
Winning the Championship playoff final has been termed ‘The Richest Game in Football’ due to the financial windfall associated with promotion. The team that secures promotion can anticipate an immediate benefit of approximately £100 million ($120 million) from Premier League TV revenue distribution, with potential for even greater financial gains should they avoid relegation in their inaugural season.