Premier League 2026-27 Season Preview: What to Watch & How to Watch
The Premier League returns on Friday, August 21, 2026 — pushed a week later than usual to make room for the 2026 World Cup — and it does so with a new champion to chase and half the league's dugouts under new management. Here's what's actually changed going into the new season, and how to watch it all in the US.
Arsenal are the team to catch
Arsenal enter 2026-27 as reigning champions, having won the 2025-26 Premier League with 85 points (26 wins, 7 draws, 5 losses). Manchester City finished second on 78, with Manchester United third and Aston Villa fourth — all four, plus fifth-placed Liverpool, going into the Champions League. At the other end, West Ham, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated; West Ham's drop ended a 14-season stay in the top flight.
Who came up
Three clubs are promoted from the Championship: Coventry City (champions, back in the top flight after around 25 years), Ipswich Town (automatic promotion at the second attempt), and Hull City (play-off winners, who beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Wembley). Fittingly, the season opens with champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City.
A summer of new managers
The story of the off-season was in the dugouts. Among the biggest jobs, Manchester City begin life after Pep Guardiola under Enzo Maresca; Manchester United reappointed Michael Carrick; Liverpool turned to Andoni Iraola; Chelsea hired Xabi Alonso; and Tottenham brought in Roberto De Zerbi. The notable constant is at the champions: Mikel Arteta stays at Arsenal, now the longest-serving manager in the division.
How to watch in the US
The Premier League remains an NBCUniversal property in the US, with rights running through 2027-28. Matches air across NBC (free over the air), USA Network and Peacock, where most of the 380 matches stream. Spanish-language coverage is on Telemundo, Universo and Peacock. The opener, Arsenal v Coventry City, is set for Friday, August 21. For the full rundown of which service carries what, see our Premier League viewing guide.
Ones to Watch
Our picks below are informed opinion based on the form above — not a crystal ball.
Opinion: the simplest case in the league. Arsenal won the title and kept the manager who won it while several rivals rebuild around new bosses — continuity is a real advantage in August. They start at home against a promoted side; a fast start would set the tone for a defence.
Opinion: City finished second and enter a genuine transition — a first full season after Guardiola. How quickly Maresca imposes his ideas on a squad built for a different manager is the season's most intriguing question.
Opinion: fifth place and a new manager in Andoni Iraola make Liverpool the wild card among the traditional heavyweights. Watch how they settle early — a new voice can spark a bounce or need time to bed in.
Predictions here are our opinion, grounded in the confirmed final table and manager changes above — not a crystal ball. For the verified week-to-week picture, our weekly Editor's Picks flag the matches worth your time, and the full Premier League schedule lists every fixture with your local kickoff time.
Form and standings verified as of publication (Monday, July 27, 2026). "Ones to watch" are our opinion — see our Editorial Policy. Kickoff times shown in US Eastern; on the schedule they convert to your local zone.