La Liga 2026-27 season guide title race fixtures

Barcelona enter the 2026-27 La Liga season as champions, with Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid among the challengers. The campaign opens in August 2026 and includes two El Clásico matches.

Forge FC clinched a spot in the Canadian Premier League Playoffs on September 20, securing postseason berth in the club’s eighth season in the CPL. Forge were the two-time defending CPL Shield winners after finishing first in both the 2024 and 2025 CPL seasons.

The 2026 Forge FC season is the eighth season in the history of Forge FC and the club’s eighth season in the Canadian Premier League, the top flight in Canadian soccer.

La Liga is a professional association football league in Spain and the highest level of the Spanish football league system. Governed by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, it is contested by 20 teams over 38 matchdays.

The 2025–26 La Liga was the 95th season of La Liga, Spain’s top-flight football competition. It began on 15 August 2025 and ended on 24 May 2026. The match schedule was published on 1 July 2025.

Barcelona were the defending champions, having won their 28th title the previous season.

Key summer 2026 transfers included Anthony Gordon joining Barcelona, while Robert Lewandowski left on a free transfer to Chicago Fire. Real Madrid signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, Denzel Dumfries from Inter, and Bernardo Silva on a free transfer from Manchester City. Fran García moved to Real Betis and Dani Carvajal was released. Atlético Madrid released Dani Parejo and Thomas Partey.

Atlético Madrid kick off against Málaga on 19 August. Los Blancos visit Espanyol on 22 August in their season opener, before hosting Real Sociedad on 26 August. Barcelona’s title defence commences away to Elche on 23 August.

The first El Clásico is scheduled for matchday 10 on October 25, 2026 in Barcelona. The return fixture is matchday 35 on May 9, 2027 in Madrid. Both games could have a major impact on the title race.

The opening round also features RC Deportivo versus Elche CF on August 17, Valencia CF versus Real Betis on August 25, and FC Barcelona versus Athletic Club on August 27. Deportivo, Racing Santander and Málaga are back in Spain’s top division.