How the Premier League winter break works in 2026

The 2026 Premier League winter break gives every club one full weekend off, staggered across two separate weekends so the league keeps broadcasting matches without forcing any team to play through January without a rest. It is not a league-wide shutdown. The break splits the 20 clubs into two groups of 10, with one group resting on the first weekend while the other plays, then they swap. This is the third iteration of the break since its introduction in 2020, and the rules have tightened.

The mechanism: staggered weekends, five matches each

From the 2025/26 season, the winter break occupies two consecutive weekends in January. The Premier League assigns each club to one of the two weekends, and no club plays a league match on its designated break weekend. The FA Cup fourth round weekend is kept free of Premier League fixtures entirely, which effectively creates a longer rest period for clubs eliminated early.

On the first break weekend, five matches are played involving 10 clubs. The other 10 clubs have no fixture. On the second weekend, the 10 rested clubs play their matches, and the first group rests. This means every club gets a minimum of 12 days between league matches across the break period, compared to the usual 6-7 days during the December fixture pile-up.

The schedule is published at the start of the season, so clubs and fans know which weekend is the break. The Premier League consults with clubs, broadcasters, and the Football Supporters' Association to balance competitive fairness and television demands. Clubs playing in European competitions may be given priority for the earlier or later weekend depending on their Champions League or Europa League schedule, though this is not guaranteed in the published rules.

History: from one weekend to two, and the FA Cup adjustment

The winter break was introduced in 2019/20 as a single weekend where five matches were played on each of two weekends, but the break was not a true rest. Clubs still played FA Cup replays and could schedule friendlies. The 2020 break was criticised because only 10 of the 20 clubs actually got a full weekend off, and several played in the FA Cup fourth round during what was supposed to be their break.

For 2021/22, the Premier League scrapped the staggered approach temporarily due to COVID-19 fixture congestion. The break returned in 2022/23 with a clearer rule: no Premier League matches in the FA Cup fourth round weekend, and no club plays two matches in the same week during the break period. The 2026 version builds on that. The FA Cup fourth round is now kept completely free of Premier League fixtures, so clubs in the cup get a rest on that weekend and clubs eliminated earlier get their break on one of the two staggered weekends.

The Premier League also abolished FA Cup replays from the first round proper starting in 2024/25, which removed one of the main complaints about the break: that clubs in the FA Cup still had to play midweek replays during what was supposed to be a rest.

Edge cases: European fixtures, rearranged matches, and the Championship

Clubs involved in the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League face the biggest complication. The break is scheduled in January, but European group stages end in December. However, if a club has a rearranged league fixture due to a European match being moved, that rearranged match can be scheduled during the break weekend if both clubs agree and the Premier League approves. This is rare but happens when a club reaches the latter stages of a European competition and has a fixture backlog.

Relegation-threatened clubs sometimes oppose the break because it breaks momentum. There is no rule preventing a club from training during its break weekend, though most give players at least three full days off. Some clubs arrange warm-weather training camps in Dubai or Spain during the break, which is permitted as long as no competitive match is played.

The winter break applies only to the Premier League. The Championship, League One, and League Two do not have a winter break. They play through January with the usual Saturday-Tuesday schedule. This creates a peculiar situation for Premier League clubs with players on loan in the Championship: those players do not get a break and can be recalled for cup matches.

Does the break actually help? The data so far

The Premier League claims the break reduces muscle injuries in January and February. Data from the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons showed a 15-20% reduction in hamstring injuries during the two months following the break compared to the same period before the break was introduced. However, the sample is small and other factors -- improved sports science, better load management, and the five-substitution rule -- also contribute.

Critics point out that the break does not address the December fixture pile-up, which remains the most intense period of the season. Clubs play four matches in 11 days over Christmas and New Year, then get the break in mid-January. By that point, the damage is often done. The break also does not apply to international players called up for African Cup of Nations or Asian Cup tournaments, which often run through January. A player from Liverpool called up by Senegal, for example, misses the break entirely and plays tournament football instead.

Key takeaways

• Every Premier League club gets one full weekend off in January, staggered across two weekends with five matches per weekend.
• The FA Cup fourth round weekend is kept completely free of Premier League fixtures, creating a longer rest for cup participants.
• FA Cup replays were abolished from 2024/25, removing the main loophole that previously forced clubs to play during the break.
• European fixture congestion can still cause rearranged league matches to be scheduled during the break, but only with both clubs' consent.
• Injury data shows a 15-20% reduction in hamstring injuries after the break, though the sample is small and other factors apply.

FAQ

Do all 20 Premier League clubs get the same amount of rest? Yes. Each club gets one full weekend without a league fixture. The staggered schedule means one group of 10 rests on the first weekend while the other 10 play, then they swap. Every club gets at least 12 days between league matches across the break period.

Can a Premier League club play a friendly during the winter break? Yes. Clubs can arrange friendlies or training camps during their break weekend, as long as no competitive match is played. Many clubs use the break for warm-weather training in Dubai or Spain. Players are typically given three to four full days off.

Does the winter break apply to the Championship? No. The winter break is a Premier League-only initiative. The Championship, League One, and League Two play through January with the usual schedule. Players on loan from Premier League clubs to Championship sides do not get a break.

When was the winter break introduced? The Premier League winter break was first introduced in the 2019/20 season. It has been adjusted each season since, with the 2025/26 version representing the third major iteration. The key change for 2026 is that the FA Cup fourth round weekend is now kept completely free of Premier League fixtures, and FA Cup replays have been abolished.

For more on how the Premier League schedule works, see the Premier League fixture rules or check the FA Cup schedule for the fourth round dates.