An absolute administrative explosion has rocked the East Midlands this morning. The official release of the 2026/27 Premier League calendar has handed Vitor Pereira’s Nottingham Forest a dramatic, high-stakes roadmap for the upcoming campaign.
Following a spectacular, historic tactical turnaround that saw Pereira rescue the Reds from relegation and guide them to a mind-bending Europa League semi-final last term, expectations on the banks of the Trent have fundamentally transformed. Forest are no longer looking down—they are actively hunting a quick return to continental football.
However, they will have to survive a brutal opening sequence and a massive festive road trip to do it, all while navigating a major transfer bomb as Elliot Anderson’s blockbuster move to Manchester City reaches its final stages.
The Opening Gauntlet: A Tense West Yorkshire Showdown
Forest will officially kick off their campaign on home soil, welcoming Daniel Farke’s newly stabilized Leeds United to the City Ground on Saturday, August 22. It is a highly anticipated clash between two clubs looking to establish mid-table dominance early.
The luxury of playing on the banks of the Trent ends immediately, however. The schedule-makers have dealt Pereira a terrifying early-season gauntlet, throwing three European heavyweights at the Reds in their first four matches.
The Winter Travel Crisis: Festive Mileage Racks Up
While Forest fans will enjoy a heavily home-biased spring run-in, the Christmas programme is a absolute logistical nightmare for travelling supporters. Pereira’s men will be completely uprooted from the East Midlands during the holidays, facing back-to-back high-intensity away trips against elite northern giants.
- Boxing Day Blockbuster: Forest travel to Old Trafford on December 26 to trade blows with Manchester United.
- The Festive Closer: The squad hits the road again on December 30 for an 8:00 PM evening battle under the lights against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The Run-In: Home Advantage Could Decide European Destiny
If Forest can navigate the winter months unscathed, the calendar rewards them heavily at the business end of the season. Four of the club’s final seven fixtures will take place at the City Ground, giving them an elite home platform to chase down European qualification positions before a final-day trip to newly-promoted Coventry City.
| Key Campaign Milestone | Opponent | Match Status / Operational Detail |
|---|---|---|
| The Opener (Aug 22) | Leeds United (H) | Crucial home baseline to kickstart season |
| The Festive Grid (Dec 26) | Manchester United (A) | High-stakes Boxing Day away test |
| The Penultimate Tie (May 23) | Ipswich Town (H) | Final home fixture on the banks of the Trent |
| The Finale (May 30) | Coventry City (A) | Final-day curtain closer (4:00 PM Kick-off) |
The Complete 2026/27 Nottingham Forest Premier League Fixture List
All fixtures are subject to standard television scheduling modifications.
AUGUST
- 22nd (Sat): Leeds United (H)
- 29th (Sat): Liverpool (A)
SEPTEMBER
- 5th (Sat): Tottenham Hotspur (H)
- 12th (Sat): Aston Villa (A)
- 19th (Sat): Coventry City (H)
OCTOBER
- 10th (Sat): Crystal Palace (A)
- 17th (Sat): Arsenal (H)
- 24th (Sat): Ipswich Town (A)
- 31st (Sat): Brentford (A)
NOVEMBER
- 7th (Sat): Manchester City (H)
- 21st (Sat): AFC Bournemouth (A)
- 28th (Sat): Chelsea (H)
DECEMBER
- 2nd (Wed): Hull City (A) – 8:00 PM
- 5th (Sat): Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
- 12th (Sat): Sunderland (A)
- 19th (Sat): Everton (H)
- 26th (Sat): Manchester United (A) (Boxing Day)
- 30th (Wed): Newcastle United (A) – 8:00 PM
JANUARY
- 2nd (Sat): Fulham (H)
- 6th (Wed): Hull City (H) – 8:00 PM
- 16th (Sat): Manchester City (A)
- 23rd (Sat): AFC Bournemouth (H)
- 30th (Sat): Chelsea (A)
FEBRUARY
- 6th (Sat): Brentford (H)
- 10th (Wed): Fulham (A) – 8:00 PM
- 20th (Sat): Manchester United (H)
- 27th (Sat): Everton (A)
MARCH
- 3rd (Wed): Newcastle United (H) – 8:00 PM
- 13th (Sat): Tottenham Hotspur (A)
- 20th (Sat): Aston Villa (H)
APRIL
- 10th (Sat): Leeds United (A)
- 17th (Sat): Liverpool (H)
- 24th (Sat): Sunderland (H)
MAY
- 1st (Sat): Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
- 8th (Sat): Crystal Palace (H)
- 15th (Sat): Arsenal (A)
- 23rd (Sun): Ipswich Town (H)
- 30th (Sun): Coventry City (A) – 4:00 PM (Final Day)
Can Vitor Pereira mastermind a top-half finish despite this brutal early-season schedule, or will losing Elliot Anderson to Manchester City derail the campaign? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!
