How English Premier League’s traditional Boxing Day fixtures became victim of packed calendar and broadcast logistics
When the Premier League dropped its full fixture list for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, fans were quick to notice something was missing: not a single match was scheduled for December 26. It was seen as a big break from tradition as Boxing Day matches have been an integral part of the calendar. For the first time, though, no match is listed for the day after Christmas, drawing sharp reactions from pundits.Why is this a big deal?It’s all about history and habit. Football on Boxing Day is part of England’s festive fabric. While Christmas Day matches died out in the 1960s, the December 26 slot became a fixture to go for. Families use it as a post-Christmas outing. Stadiums fill up despite limited transport, and even clubs in the lower leagues see a spike in attendance. It’s something uniquely English, as most other European leagues shut down for a winter break.So why isn’t the Premier League scheduling games on Boxing Day in the upcoming season?Story continues below this adIt boils down to a complex mix of calendar quirks and broadcast logistics.The Premier League divides its season into 33 weekend rounds and 5 midweek ones, to accommodate both domestic (FA Cup, League Cup) and European competitions (Champions League, Europa League, and Conference Leagues). This rigid structure also aligns with how the league sells broadcast rights.In 2025, Boxing Day lands on a Friday, and that’s the crux. Because weekend rounds stretch from Friday to Monday, December 26 has been bundled into Round 18, officially set for December 27. The Premier League mandates a minimum 48-hour gap between matches during the festive period, so squeezing in a Friday game complicates everything.Contrast that with last season (2024-25), when December 26 fell on a Thursday. That allowed the full round of games to be played on Boxing Day itself, with no scheduling conflict.Story continues below this adDoes that mean we won’t get any matches on December 26?The Premier League has left the door open. Their statement said fixtures in Round 18 (officially dated December 27) “are available for movement to Boxing Day for live broadcast selection.” So yes, you can still expect Boxing Day football.In simple terms, some games will likely be moved to Boxing Day to satisfy broadcaster and fan demand. Boxing Day is a prime viewing window, too good to ignore, and some action is almost guaranteed, even if not all 10 matches.Who decides which games might move to Boxing Day?That’s up to the UK broadcast rights holders, Sky Sports and TNT Sports, who now share all domestic rights after Amazon’s Prime Video contract ended. In the past, Amazon held exclusive rights for post-Christmas fixtures, but starting this season, Sky and TNT can spread their picks across the festive period. Up to four matches could be shown on December 26 in staggered time slots, depending on selections.Story continues below this adWhen will we actually know which teams are playing on Boxing Day?Latest by October 15. That’s the Premier League’s provisional deadline to confirm TV selections for the festive period, keeping with the policy of giving at least six weeks’ notice before changes.Is the schedule more complicated this season?Yes, quite. A lot of it stems from Europe. Nine Premier League clubs will be competing in UEFA competitions (Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League), and that impacts domestic scheduling.Teams playing on Thursdays in Europe usually get bumped to Sundays in the Premier League.Story continues below this adSome play on Tuesday or Wednesday, too. That makes it harder to nail down dates in advance, especially during the congested winter window.Could this be the beginning of the end for Boxing Day tradition?Unlikely. The tradition runs deep, and broadcasters want the ratings that come with it. The way matches are announced may evolve, but as long as fans want their post-Christmas football fix, Boxing Day matches will stay.
Latest Articles
