Early tests and a rivalry renewed - five key Premier League dates for Aston Villa in 2026-27

Villa supporters can begin planning for the 2026-27 season following the release of the Premier League fixtures.

Unai Emery’s team will be aiming to follow up one of the best campaigns in recent history, which culminated in a fourth-placed finish and a return to the Champions League.

The Express & Star takes a look at five key matches for the new season, now the schedule is known.

August 29 - Arsenal (H)

This is the fixture which immediately jumps off the page when looking at the early weeks of the season.

Villa’s 2-1 win over the Gunners last December was one of the highlights of the campaign, Emi Buendia’s last-gasp goal sparking scenes which will live long in the memory.

At that point you wondered whether Unai Emery’s team would go on to challenge Mikel Arteta’s side for the title.

It was not to be, yet this fixture on the second weekend of the new campaign offers the chance to lay down a marker for the months to come.

October 24 - Manchester City (H)

Villa will be aiming to make it four straight home Premier League wins against City, who for the first time since 2015 will arrive in B6 with a manager other than Pep Guardiola at the helm.

Of greater significance is its place on the schedule. This match will be Villa’s eighth in the league and begins a run of five home matches in seven, leading all the way into early December.

Excellent home form has underpinned Villa’s rise under Unai Emery. At one point last season they won 11 on the bounce in front of their own supporters. Strong home performances will again be key if this is to be another successful campaign.

December 12 - Coventry (A)

For Villa fans of an older generation it is pretty extraordinary to think this will be the first competitive meeting between the clubs for 25 years - and the first at the CBS Arena.

It was Villa who famously hammered the final nail into the Sky Blues’ Premier League coffin with a 3-2 home win in 2001, Paul Merson scoring a late winner to cap a comeback from 2-0 down.

No question, this will have been a date long anticipated by Coventry supporters. Most Villa fans don’t consider this a rivalry but in terms of local derbies, this season it will be as close as it gets.

December 30 - Liverpool (H)

Villa will round off 2026 with a visit from the Reds.

Unai Emery finally ended his Liverpool hoodoo with a 4-2 win in the final home match of last season which secured Champions League qualification.

Ipswich are now the only Premier League club the Spaniard has faced in charge of Villa and failed to beat.

This match comes just a few days after Villa host Leeds on Boxing Day and Emery will be hoping for maximum points from both.

May 30 - Tottenham (H)

This will be just the second time in five seasons Villa finish their league campaign at home.

Tottenham have been dreadful for the past two years and are fairly fortunate not to be playing in the Championship this season.

But they remain a club with huge resources and you would expect them to be resurgent this term, now under the guidance of Roberto De Zerbi.

Villa go to Manchester City the preceding weekend, meaning they finish the season against two teams they will expect to be rivals in the battle for Champions League football. There could be plenty on the line.