For millions of fans of English football, the second day of Christmas—known in the UK as Boxing Day—has traditionally been a celebration of the sport. Usually, on 26 December, supporters could count on a full marathon of matches lasting from early afternoon until the evening. However, the Premier League schedule for the 2025/2026 season has brought an unexpected change. On Boxing Day 2025, only one fixture will be played. What is behind this revolution in the calendar, and what does the holiday and New Year period look like in the league’s schedule?
Reasons for the Changes to the Boxing Day 2025 Calendar
The main reason why only one match will take place on 26 December 2025 is an unprecedented level of fixture congestion. League authorities were faced with the challenge of balancing tradition with the new realities of European football.
The change in the format of European competitions, including the Champions League, forced Premier League organisers to secure a larger number of midweek dates. To ensure the season runs smoothly, the league must guarantee as many as 33 match weekends. The situation in 2025 is further complicated by how the calendar falls—Boxing Day lands on a Friday.
The Friday date of 26 December turned out to be a logistical bottleneck. Due to cup fixtures (the League Cup and upcoming FA Cup rounds) as well as the need to ensure sufficient recovery time for players, league authorities decided to move almost the entire round to Saturday, 27 December. Although controversial for traditionalists, this decision aims to protect player welfare and maintain a high sporting standard in a key phase of the season.
Which Match Will We Watch on 26 December? Manchester United vs Newcastle
Despite the reduced number of fixtures, the only match on Boxing Day 2025 promises to be a blockbuster. The eyes of the footballing world will be on the clash between two highly decorated sides. On Friday evening, Manchester United will host Newcastle United.
The match has been scheduled for 20:00 local time (GMT +0). This encounter will have an exclusive character — as the only Premier League event of the day, it is certain to attract a record audience. A showdown between the Red Devils and the Magpies guarantees excitement and serves as the perfect finale to the second day of Christmas.
Premier League on 27 December – A Surge of Football Excitement
Fans who feel a sense of insufficiency on Friday will get full compensation the very next day. Saturday, 27 December 2025, has taken over as the main matchday of this round. It is then that the remaining nine fixtures will be played.
The schedule for 27 December looks impressive and resembles a classic Saturday round of the English top flight:
- 12:30 (GMT +0): The day starts with a strong opener — Nottingham Forest will face Manchester City.
- 15:00 (GMT +0): In the traditional “three o’clock” slot, we will see as many as five matches, including Arsenal vs Brighton and Liverpool vs Wolverhampton. At the same time, Brentford will play Bournemouth, Burnley will meet Everton, and West Ham will face Fulham.
- 17:30 (GMT +0): For dessert, an intriguing London clash has been scheduled: Chelsea vs Aston Villa.
It is worth noting that, unlike in previous years, no matches have been scheduled for Sunday, 28 December. All attention will therefore be focused on Friday’s classic and Saturday’s marathon.
Is This the End of the Christmas Football Tradition?
Many fans are wondering whether the reduction of Boxing Day fixtures in 2025 is a one-off incident or a sign of permanent change. Experts are reassuring — the current situation stems from the specific calendar layout (a Friday) and the expanded UEFA competitions during this particular cycle.
Premier League officials are well aware that matches played on 26 December are a part of British culture and a major marketing asset for the league. If Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or another favourable day in future years, we can expect a return to the traditional full slate of fixtures. The year 2025 is exceptional in this regard, forcing a compromise between tradition and the demands of the modern sporting calendar.
To sum up, although Boxing Day 2025 will feature fewer matches, the intensity of emotions will remain high thanks to the blockbuster clash at Old Trafford and the “super Saturday” that follows.
