Celtic will open their 2026-27 Scottish Premiership title defence on a Monday evening, a scheduling decision the champions say was forced by a combination of the Commonwealth Games and two Calvin Harris concerts.
The Scottish champions host Dundee on 3 August (19:30 BST) after what they described as “repeated representations” to the SPFL and Police Scotland for a weekend fixture were met with a flat “no choice”. The Glasgow 2026 cycling events at the Sir Chris Hoy Arena – next to Celtic Park – occupy the weekend of 1 and 2 August, while Harris stages two large concerts at Hampden on the same days.
“Celtic start title defence on Monday 3 August due to Commonwealth Games and Calvin Harris concerts.”
“We feel strongly a weekend timing should have been facilitated in the interests of both teams, both sets of supporters and the status of the fixture,” said Celtic, who added they had negotiated an earlier kick-off time to help fans travelling from Ireland.
All six opening-weekend fixtures will be shown live on television, with the 2026-27 term starting on Friday, 31 July as Dundee United host Rangers (20:00). Hearts – last season’s runners-up – visit Aberdeen on the Saturday (17:30), after Falkirk and St Mirren meet earlier in the day (15:00). There are two games on Sunday, as newly promoted St Johnstone mark their return against Kilmarnock in Perth (14:00) before Hibernian entertain Motherwell (16:30).
The first Old Firm derby will be on Sunday, 20 September at Celtic Park (12:00). A Dundee derby at Dens Park features during the third round of fixtures, while Edinburgh rivals Hibs and Hearts go head-to-head at Easter Road on Wednesday, 2 September. New Rangers manager Derek McInnes will return to Tynecastle on Wednesday, 28 October after his departure from Hearts.
Once again, there is no room in the schedule for a winter break. Fixture round 33 arrives on 10 April, with the five rounds of post-split games ending on the weekend of 15 and 16 May.
Last season was one of the most dramatic in recent memory as Celtic clinched a fifth straight title by beating Hearts in the final few minutes of the last game.