The 2026/27 English football season offers a compelling mixture of established rivalries, revived local derbies and fixtures renewed by promotion and relegation.
At the top of the pyramid, Arsenal begin the campaign as defending Premier League champions, adding another layer to their meetings with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United. Newcastle United and Sunderland are also preparing for another season of Tyne-Wear derbies after the Black Cats’ successful return to the top flight.
The Championship may offer the most intense rivalry calendar of any division. West Ham United’s relegation has renewed the Dockers derby with Millwall, while Wolves will face West Bromwich Albion in the Black Country derby. Cardiff City’s promotion also places three major Welsh clubs in the same division.
Further down the pyramid, the concentration of South Yorkshire teams in League One promises a season of packed away ends and intense regional contests.
These are the best English football rivalries to watch throughout 2026/27.
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
The North London derby remains one of the defining fixtures of the Premier League season.
Arsenal enter the campaign as defending champions, while Tottenham are attempting to rebuild after two consecutive 17th-place finishes. That contrast gives the rivalry a new dynamic.
For Arsenal, the matches provide an opportunity to reinforce their position as the leading club in North London. For Tottenham, defeating the champions would offer supporters evidence that the club is beginning to move in the right direction.
The first league meeting is scheduled to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December, with the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium currently set for May.
That second match could carry enormous importance. Arsenal may be defending their title during the closing weeks, while Tottenham could be competing for European qualification or attempting to avoid another difficult finish.
Regardless of league position, the rivalry’s history, atmosphere and geographic proximity ensure both matches will be among the most anticipated of the season.
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