The reason why there will be no Boxing Day in the Premier League this Christmas

Boxing Day has long been a highlight of the English football calendar, but this year’s tradition will be scaled back. According to The Times, “the 26th of December football tradition will be practically broken this year, as the top tier will meet its broadcasting obligations by holding most games over the weekend.” For the 2025-26 season, Boxing Day falls on a Friday, and instead of the usual full slate, only one of the 10 Premier League matches will take place on that day.

Why no Boxing Day soccer in the Premier League?

Traditionally, Dec. 26 hosts the bulk of the Premier League’s fixtures. For example, in the 2024-25 season, eight of 10 matchday 18 games were played on Boxing Day. But English clubs are contractually required to play 33 weekend matches each season, leaving only five midweek slots. With expanded European competitions and the FA Cup now taking up more weekends, the Premier League needs Saturday, Dec. 27, and Sunday, Dec. 28, to meet its obligations.

A historic low

This will make the 2025-26 Boxing Day the sparsest since World War II, with only one match scheduled. It’s not yet clear which of the 10 matchday 18 fixtures will take place on Friday. Previously, the record for the fewest Boxing Day games since 1945 was two matches in 1981. By contrast, in 2014, when Boxing Day also fell on a Friday, all 10 Premier League games went ahead on the same day.

The future of Boxing Day

The Times notes that when Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, the league expects a return to normal. This year, however, is likely to be treated as a regular weekend, with most matches on Saturday and Sunday and the final game of the 10 scheduled for Monday. Meanwhile, the EFL and National League (Championship, League One, League Two, and non-league football) remain loyal to tradition, scheduling all their fixtures for Dec. 26.

English football fans have long treasured their holiday traditions, but in 2025, TV money calls the shots.

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