First Matchweek of the 2026/27 Eredivisie revealed: Season Kicks Off in Leeuwarden
The first Matchweek of the 2026/27 Eredivisie season has been announced. SC Cambuur and Excelsior Rotterdam will play the first match of the new campaign on Friday evening, 7 August 2026 (20:00 CEST). The marks not only the start of a new season but also the league's anniversary season, celebrating 70 years of professional football in the Netherlands. The remaining fixtures of Matchweek 1 will be played across Nijmegen, Deventer, Eindhoven, Alkmaar, Rotterdam, Groningen, Zwolle and Heerenveen on Saturday and Sunday.
Matchweek 1
Promoted side SC Cambuur will kick off the season on Friday evening against Excelsior Rotterdam. The first ball of the new Eredivisie campaign will be kicked at 20:00 in the Kooi Stadium.
A day later, on Saturday 8 August, N.E.C. Nijmegen begin their season against Telstar (16:30), while newly promoted Willem II travel to Go Ahead Eagles (18:45).
Defending champions PSV will also be in action on Saturday, with Peter Bosz’s side opening their campaign at home against Fortuna Sittard (20:00). The evening concludes with AZ taking on First Division champions ADO Den Haag at 21:00.
On Sunday 9 August, the first derby of the season takes place as Sparta Rotterdam host city rivals Feyenoord at Het Kasteel (12:15). At 14:30, FC Groningen welcome FC Utrecht to the Euroborg, while Ajax visit PEC Zwolle at the same time. Matchweek 1 concludes at 16:45 with sc Heerenveen taking on FC Twente.
First major clash on 5 September
The first major clash between Ajax and PSV is scheduled for Matchday 5. Ajax host PSV at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Saturday 5 September.
De Klassieker will not be played until Matchday 14, when Feyenoord welcome Ajax to De Kuip on Sunday 29 November.
AI helps solve football’s annual puzzle
Jan de Jong, CEO of the Eredivisie CV and member of the Professional Football Competition Board, commented on the creation of the fixture list: “Every summer we solve what feels like an impossible five-star puzzle, and this year for the 70th time. It seems we have made it even more complicated for this anniversary season, with far more pieces than ever before. With the help of extensive AI software from the United States, we work through thousands upon thousands of possible and impossible scenarios. A single calculation can easily take four to five hours of computing time, which shows just how complex the process is, and often the whole exercise starts over again afterwards.”
“It remains a small miracle that a schedule eventually emerges that satisfies eighteen clubs, supporters, municipalities, police authorities, broadcasters and European football organisations. It is a wonderful compromise and a perfect example of the Dutch consensus model. Once again, we have succeeded. We have a fantastic season ahead of us, without midweek league rounds, with enough room to support clubs competing in Europe and with a proper winter break that allows players, staff and supporters to recharge. From today onwards, the anticipation can begin as we look forward to another VriendenLoterij Eredivisie season full of remarkable stories, unexpected twists and dramatic conclusions. History continues to be written. It has been doing so for 70 years, and the story is never finished.”
Complete provisional fixture list
The complete provisional fixture list for the 2026/27 Eredivisie season will be published on Wednesday 10 June. Following publication, clubs will have the opportunity to request amendments before the final fixture list is confirmed on Monday 15 June.
The fixture schedule has been developed by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) in consultation with the Professional Football Competition Board, consisting of Marianne van Leeuwen (KNVB), Marc Boele (First Divison) and Jan de Jong (Eredivisie CV).
Read more
