While most football fans are focussed on the World Cup, Thursday lunchtime saw the SPFL announced the fixture list for the new Scottish Premiership season. As champions, Celtic will get to raise the traditional Premiership flag on the opening weekend, but will do so at an unusual time.
The Celts' opening weekend clash with Dundee at Parkhead will take place on Monday 3 August, with a 7:30pm kick off. The club described this scheduling as "disappointing" but, for once, even though the match will be live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, it is not the fault of the TV companies.
The Commonwealth Games takes place in Glasgow between 23 July and 2 August, so Police Scotland said they would not be able to cope with a Celtic home match that weekend. On 1 and 2 August, there are track cycling events at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome, as well as two Calvin Harris performances at Hampden, leading to a far from ideal season curtain raiser at Parkhead.
Celtic's first 7 Scottish Premiership fixtures
Date | Kick off time | Fixture | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
Monday 3 August | 19:30 | Dundee (H) | Sky Sports |
Sunday 9 August | 13:30 | Kilmarnock (A) | Sky Sports |
22/23 August | TBC | St Johntone (A) | TBC |
29/30 August | TBC | Falkirk (H) | TBC |
Wed 2 September | 19:45 | Aberdeen (H) | TBC |
5/6 September | TBC | St Mirren (A) | TBC |
Sun 20 September | Noon | Rangers (H) | Sky Sports |
Celtic will play seven Premiership fixtures before the September international break, which now takes place later than we have become accustomed to. After the opening weekend clash with Dundee, tricky trips to Rugby Park and McDiarmid Park follow, with that clash with Kilmarnock having been confirmed as being on the Sunday with a lunchtime kick off.
Celtic vs Rangers 2026/27 Premiership dates
Date | Kick off time | Old Firm fixture |
|---|---|---|
Sunday 20 September | Noon | Celtic vs Rangers; Parkhead |
Saturday 2 January* | TBC | Rangers vs Celtic; Ibrox |
Saturday 27 February* | TBC | Celtic vs Rangers; Parkhead |
Note: *the date and kick off time of these fixtures will be confirmed at a later date.
Celtic's final fixture before the first international break is the small matter of a Glasgow derby at Parkhead. Rangers have so far raided Hearts this summer, appointing Derek McInnes as manager, as well as signing the Jambos' captain Lawrence Shankland. So, as always, that Old Firm will be crucial, but both will have played six league matches before then, as well as a few more in other competitions.
Other key dates for Celtic fans
- Sunday 26 July - around 5:15pm: Scottish League Cup second round draw.
- Monday 3 August - 11am: UEFA Champions League play-off round draw.
- Saturday 15 August - Scottish League Cup second round matches to be played.
- Tue 18/Wed 19 August - 8pm: UEFA Champions League play-off first leg.
- Tue 25/Wed 26 August - 8pm: UEFA Champions League play-off second leg.
- Thursday 27 August - 5pm: UEFA Champions League league phase draw.
- Tuesday 1 September - 11pm. Scottish transfer window closes.
The third weekend of the season is allocated to the League Cup, with Celtic set to face a team who come through the group stages; they'll learn their opponents on 26 July. Nevertheless, the biggest matches Martin O'Neill's team will play across August are the Champions League play-offs.
The Hoops will discover who'll stand between them and the league phase on Monday 3 August, with the two-legged tie scheduled for the final two mid-weeks of August. After last season's calamity against Kairat, supporters won't be taking anything for granted. Having St Johnstone away in-between the two legs, with Falkirk visiting Parkhead the following weekend, those are pretty kind fixtures, which could help their chances.
Add us as a preferred source on Google