The Championship is one of the most competitive leagues in football, with 24 teams battling it out to reach the Premier League every season.
The end-of-season playoff system first made its way into the EFL back in 1987. Two years later, the format settled into the version we know today, where the four clubs finishing just outside the automatic promotion spots battle it out for one final place in the top division.
The Championship playoffs in 2026 are set to deliver thrilling matches, with fixtures lined up featuring some of the competition's top teams. Fans eagerly anticipate these clashes to see which sides will secure their promotion to the upper echelons of football. For those who enjoy making predictions and engaging with the games on a different level, registering with a betting platform can enhance the experience. The 1xbet registration offers an easy and convenient way for enthusiasts to place their bets and join in the excitement surrounding these crucial playoffs.
Arguably, the most exciting aspect of the Championship season is the playoff stage, where four teams can secure the one remaining promotion spot.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about the 2026 Championship playoffs, including where to watch, how it works, and more.
What are the Championship playoffs?
In English football, the Championship playoffs act as a final showdown once the regular season wraps up, deciding which club claims the last remaining ticket to the Premier League.
After 46 league matches, the top two sides go straight up to the top flight. The teams finishing third through sixth are then thrown into a high-stakes playoff bracket, all fighting for that one golden promotion spot.
How do the Championship playoffs work?
The battle to clinch a berth in the Championship playoffs is always intense in one of football's most unpredictable leagues. However, the stakes skyrocket when the playoffs themselves get underway at the season's conclusion.
These playoffs pit the four teams finishing just below the automatic promotion spots against one another in a high-stakes knockout format. Teams finishing the campaign in third through sixth positions qualify to compete for the coveted final promotion spot.
In the semi-finals, the third-placed team faces the sixth, while the fourth-placed side squares off against the fifth. Each tie consists of two legs, with both teams hosting one game apiece. The team with the higher league finish earns the advantage of playing the decisive second leg at their home venue.
Winners are determined by the total score across both legs, with no away-goals rule in effect. Should the aggregate score remain level after the second leg, the tie proceeds to extra time, and if necessary, penalties will decide the outcome.
The victors of the two semi-finals advance to the playoff final, a one-off clash held at Wembley Stadium. If regulation time ends without a winner, extra time and penalties are used to settle the match. The team that triumphs in the final secures a spot in the Premier League for the following season.
Which teams have qualified for the 2026 Championship playoffs?
Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City all reached the playoffs for the 2025-26 season, with the Tigers and the Saints reaching the final. Following the 'spygate' drama, however, Middlesbrough have been reinstated and will face Hull in the final on May 23.
Championship 2025-26 table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coventry City (C) | 46 | 28 | 11 | 7 | +52 | 95 |
| 2 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 23 | 15 | 8 | +33 | 84 |
| 3 | Millwall | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | +15 | 83 |
| 4 | Southampton | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | +26 | 80 |
| 5 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | +25 | 80 |
| 6 | Hull City | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | +4 | 73 |
Last updated: May 2, 2026
Where to watch the Championship playoffs 2026 on TV & how to stream live online
| Country | TV channel | Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (UK) | ||
| United States (U.S.) | CBS Sports Network (select games) |
Sky Sports will broadcast all Championship playoff games on its network, with Sky Sports Main Event and Sky SportsFootball being the main TV channels. For those who wish to stream the games live online, you can do so with Sky GO.
In the U.S., the 2025-26 EFL Championship playoff games will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network, with the majority of games available on Paramount+, which is currently offering a 7-day free-trial for new users.
When are the 2026 Championship playoffs?
The EFL has confirmed the dates for the 2025-26 Championship playoff semi-finals. The first legs will be held on May 8 and 9, with the second legs scheduled for May 11 and 12.
The showpiece Championship playoff Final is pencilled in for Saturday, May 23, 2026, when one club will finally earn that last coveted spot in the Premier League under the iconic Wembley arch. The playoffs will feature the teams that finish between third and sixth in the Championship standings, competing for a coveted spot in the Premier League.
Championship playoff semi-final fixture & result:
| Matches | Teams | Date & kick-off time |
| First legs | Hull 0-0 Millwall | Friday, May 8 - 8pm |
| First legs | Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton | Saturday, May 9 - 12.30pm |
| Second leg | Millwall 0-2 Hull | Monday May, 11 - 8pm |
| Second leg | Southampton 2-1 Middlesbrough | Tuesday May, 12 - 8pm |
When and where is the Championship playoff final 2026?
| Date: | Saturday, May 23, 2026 |
| Fixture: | Hull City vs Middlesbrough |
| Kick-off time: | 15:30 BST |
| Venue: | Wembley Stadium, London |
The 2026 Championship playoff final will be played on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Wembley Stadium.
Wembley, of course, is an iconic stadium in British sports and for English football in particular. The 90,000-capacity stadium is affectionately known as 'The Home of Football' or 'HQ' and hosts most national finals, including those of the Football League playoffs and FA Cup.
'Spygate' & why Middlesbrough are in Championship playoff final instead of Southampton
Unprecedented controversy has rocked the Championship playoffs in 2025-26, with Southampton, who beat Middlesbrough in the playoff semi-final over the two legs, having been expelled from the final and they have also been handed a four-point deduction at the start of next season.
This is after the EFL found them guilty of spying on rival sides, on three separate occasions, including Boro, who have now been reinstated and will face Hull City in the final on May 23.
Southampton's appeal against the decision was thrown out by the EFL, with Hull City also seeking legal advise amid the chaos.
Who won the Championship playoffs in 2025?
Sunderland clinched their return to the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Sheffield United in the 2025 Championship playoff final. Trailing late on, the Black Cats turned the match on its head with two second-half strikes, sealing a long-awaited comeback to the top flight for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.
How much is winning the Championship playoffs worth?
The Championship playoff final has been dubbed 'The Richest Game in Football' due to the financial rewards that accompany victory in the game.
Initially, the promoted team can be said to benefit to the tune of £100 million ($120m) thanks to the distribution of TV money among Premier League clubs, but there are many more attendant revenue boosters.
For example, that money could be doubled if a team avoids relegation in their first season, while all sorts of sponsorship deals come rolling into a team that plays in the Premier League.