The Premier League has announced that this year’s traditional Boxing Day fixture list will feature just one match, Manchester United vs. Newcastle United, on Friday, December 26, 2025.

The league confirmed the development on Friday, citing the expansion of European club competitions and changes to the domestic football calendar as the main reasons for the reduced schedule.

For over a century, Boxing Day has been a cornerstone of English football, traditionally offering fans a full slate of matches that form part of the festive season’s excitement.

However, the Premier League explained that structural adjustments to accommodate European tournaments and revised FA Cup dates have significantly tightened its scheduling window.

“The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an important tradition in English football,” the statement read.

The league noted that the 2025/26 campaign is spread across 33 weekends, fewer than in previous seasons, even though the competition still consists of 380 matches.

Following the Boxing Day clash, seven matches will be played on Saturday, December 27, with the remaining two fixtures set for Sunday, December 28.

The Premier League also assured fans that Boxing Day 2026 will feature a fuller schedule, as the date will fall on a Saturday, allowing for more fixtures.

“Special arrangements have been made to ensure players have adequate recovery time between games during the festive period, with no club scheduled to play within 60 hours of another match,” the statement added.