2025/26 Champions League: Teams, format, dates, draws, final

In 2025/26, Europe's elite club competition is back for its 71st season and its 34th since it was renamed the UEFA Champions League. It kicked off on 8 July 2025 and runs until the final in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday 30 May 2026.

Please note that dates are subject to change.

Which teams are in the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League?

England: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle
Italy: Napoli, Inter, Atalanta, Juventus
Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atleti, Athletic Club, Villarreal
Germany: Bayern München, Leverkusen, Frankfurt, B. Dortmund
France: Paris, Marseille, Monaco
Netherlands: PSV, Ajax
Portugal: Benfica*, Sporting CP
Belgium: Club Brugge*, Union SG
Türkiye: Galatasaray
Czechia: Slavia Praha
Norway: Bodø/Glimt*
Greece: Olympiacos
Denmark: Copenhagen*
Cyprus: Pafos*
Azerbaijan: Qarabağ*
Kazakhstan: Kairat Almaty*

*Play-off winners

Twenty-nine teams qualified automatically, either through their domestic league placing or being holders of the Champions League (Paris Saint-Germain) or UEFA Europa League (Tottenham). Rebalancing was required as Champions League winners Paris also qualified automatically via their domestic league placing.

Full explainer: Champions League winner rebalancing

Two of the places were filled by the European Performance Spots, while seven slots were determined via qualifying.

From this season, the league phase rankings will also be relevant for seeding for the quarter-final and semi-finals, in addition to determining the seeding for the knock-out phase play-offs and round of 16 as already in place last season.

In this regard, seeded teams for the quarter-finals (i.e. those teams finishing first to fourth at the end of the league phase) will have the advantage of playing the second leg of their quarter-final tie at home if they make it that far.

Furthermore, the seeded teams for the semi-finals (i.e. those that finish first and second at the end of the league phase) will play the second leg of their semi-final tie at home if they progress to that stage. However, if a seeded team is beaten in any round, the team that eliminates them takes over their seeding position.

When are the league phase matches in the 2025/26 Champions League? 

Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025
Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025
Matchday 3: 21/22 October 2025
Matchday 4: 4/5 November 2025
Matchday 5: 25/26 November 2025
Matchday 6: 9/10 December 2025
Matchday 7: 20/21 January 2026
Matchday 8: 28 January 2026

When are the knockout phase matches in the 2025/26 Champions League?

Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026
Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)

When are the 2025/26 Champions League draws?

Knockout phase play-offs: 30 January 2026
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final: 27 February 2026

Puskás ArénaUEFA via Getty Images

When and where is the 2026 Champions League final?

The Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, will provide the stage as Champions League action reaches its zenith on 30 May 2026. The stadium also hosted the UEFA Europa League decider in 2023, but this will be the first time that the final of Europe's premier club competition is held in Hungary.

What do the Champions League winners get?

The current UEFA Champions League trophy stands 73.5cm tall and weighs 7.5kg.

The 2025/26 winners also gain a place in the league stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition. They will also earn the right to play against the winners of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.

How did 2025/26 Champions League qualifying work?

Twenty-nine teams qualified directly for the league phase, with the final seven spots coming through qualifying, culminating in August's play-offs. The stage at which teams entered qualifying was based on their association club coefficient rankings. All ties were played over two legs.

When were the 2025/26 Champions League qualifying rounds and play-offs?

First qualifying round: 8/9 & 15/16 July 2025
Second qualifying round: 22/23 & 29/30 July 2025
Third qualifying round: 5/6 & 12 August 2025
Play-offs: 19/20 & 26/27 August 2025