Cardiff face Wrexham in EFL season-opening derby

Cardiff City will host Welsh rivals Wrexham in a blockbuster start to the 2026-27 Championship campaign.

The south-north derby - the first league meeting between Cardiff and Wrexham in 24 years - takes place on Monday, 17 August.

The south Wales derby also returns following Cardiff's promotion, with Swansea City hosting the Bluebirds on Saturday, 28 November and the return at Cardiff City Stadium scheduled for 13 March - though all fixtures are subject to change.

In the other Welsh derby, Swansea host Wrexham on 5 September, with the reverse fixture in north Wales taking place on 10 April.

It is the first time in 45 years that Wales will have three sides in the second tier of English football, since the 1980-81 campaign featured Cardiff, Wrexham and Swansea in the old Division Two.

Swansea start their new campaign at Stoke City on Saturday, 15 August, while Newport County - after narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of 2025-26 - begin their League Two season at home against promoted National League runners-up Rochdale.

For Wrexham and Cardiff fans, the opening-round derby is a mouthwatering start to the season, and a chance for the Red Dragons to gain revenge after the Bluebirds beat them in a League Cup tie at the Stok Cae Ras in October last year.

"A Welsh rivalry to kick off our second season in the Championship is a great way to start the campaign, and we can't wait to see all our fantastic supporters at Cardiff City Stadium on 17 August," said Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

Wrexham will face Watford in their first home game of the campaign on Saturday, 22 August.

Parkinson's side travel to Stoke on 26 December before hosting Bolton Wanderers on Friday, 1 January. They finish the season at home to Bristol City on Saturday, 1 May.

Wrexham, who missed out on the play-offs on the final day of 2025-26, will also be the first Welsh side to face West Ham United following their relegation from the Premier League, at London Stadium on 12 September.

The first Championship game of the season at the Swansea.com Stadium will see Sheffield United visit on 22 August, while the Swans' festive fixtures include a trip to relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers on 26 December and a home meeting with Charlton on New Year's Day.

Vitor Matos' side will round off the season at home to Middlesbrough.

After winning promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt last season, Cardiff's first away match is at Derby County on 22 August.

There will be no need for Bluebirds fans to travel on 26 December, when Cardiff host Millwall, but they face a trip to Southampton on the first day of 2027.

Brian Barry-Murphy's team also travel on the final day of the regular season, when they face at Preston North End on 1 May.

Newport fans face a short trip to Bristol Rovers on the second weekend of the season, while they go to Exeter City on 26 December and host Barnet on New Year's Day.

The final game of the season for Christian Fuchs' side is at Walsall on Saturday, 8 May.

The 2026-27 EFL season starts on the weekend of 14-16 August across the Championship, League One and League Two.

But the competitive campaign will officially begin one week earlier, with the first round of the Carabao Cup taking place on 7-9 August.

There are no Easter fixtures due to an international break.