The draw for the 2026/27 edition of the Conference League will schedule the league phase as teams from across Europe bid to succeed Crystal Palace as champions.
The Eagles beat Rayo Vallecano in the 2025/26 final to become the third Premier League club to win the competition after Chelsea in 2025 and West Ham in 2023.
Olympiacos won the 2023/2024 Conference League and Roma triumphed in the inaugural edition in 2021/22.
Here’s what you need to know about the Conference League draw, including when it takes place, when future draws are and the fixture schedule for 2024/25.
When is the Conference League draw?
The draw will take place on Friday, August 28 – a day after the play-off ties come to a close to decide the last teams to qualify.
The draw ceremony will start at 12:00 BST / 07:00 ET / 04:00 PT.
How to watch Conference League draw: TV channel, online live stream
The draw will be shown live and for free on UEFA.com, as well as on UEFA’s YouTube channel.
TNT Sports will also broadcast the draw on TNT Sports 1 and the HBO Max app.
Conference League schedule, fixtures 2026/27
The league phase starts on October 15 and ends on December 17.
| Matchday | Date |
|---|---|
| 1 | October 15, 2026 |
| 2 | October 22, 2026 |
| 3 | November 5, 2026 |
| 4 | November 26, 2026 |
| 5 | December 10, 2026 |
| 6 | December 17, 2026 |
When is the Conference League knockout phase?
The play-offs are in February as part of a knockout phase lasting until June 2.
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Play-offs | February 18 & 25, 2027 |
| Round of 16 | March 11 & 18, 2027 |
| Quarter-finals | April 8 & 15, 2027 |
| Semi-finals | April 29 & May 6, 2027 |
| Final | June 2, 2027 |
When are the Conference League draws?
The dates for the knockout phase draws were yet to be confirmed as of August 25, 2026.
Which English clubs are in the Conference League 2025/26?
Brighton & Hove Albion qualified for the Conference League by finishing seventh in last season’s Premier League.
The Seagulls must beat Norwegian side Tromso at home on August 27 to secure a place in the league phase, having drawn the first leg of their qualifying tie 0-0 away.
When is the Conference League final?
The final will take place on June 2 2027 at the Besiktas Park home of Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas in Istanbul.
The setting could be a good omen for English sides: Aston Villa beat Freiburg there to win last season’s Europa League final, seven years after European champions Liverpool beat Europa League holders Chelsea at the same stadium to lift the Super Cup trophy.
The winners gain a place in the league phase of the 2026/27 Europa League if they have not qualified through their domestic competition.
