TNS kick off new-look Cymru Premier at Penybont

The New Saints won the first of their 18 Welsh titles in 2000 [FAW] Champions The New Saints will begin the new expanded Cymru Premier season at Penybont, while the league's three debutants have also been handed away trips. Saints, who won the title for the 18th time last season, will be up against Euroepan play-off winners Penybont on Sunday, 2 August. The 2026-27 season marks a major relaunch for Wales' domestic top flight, with the number of clubs rising from 12 to 16. Four Friday night games - a bid by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to help drive attendances - starts the season on 31 July. Trefelin BGC, last season's Cymru South champions, are away at Colwyn Bay for their first ever game in the top-flight. Fellow promoted clubs Ammanford and Cambrian United also make their Cymru Premier debuts and visit Briton Ferry Llansawel and Barry Town United respectively. Cymru North champions Llandudno's return to the top-flight sees them host Flint Town United also on the Friday evening. Airbus UK and Holywell Town are also back in the Cymru Premier and start on Saturday, 1 August – The Wingmakers are at Haverfordwest and Holywell at Cardiff Met. Last season's runners-up Connah's Quay Nomads begin their campaign at home to Welsh Cup winners Caernarfon Town at home on Sunday, 2 August. Changes to the Cymru Premier, founded in 1992, include new branding and new title sponsors in Novira Technologies The FAW are expected to confirm a new broadcast deal for the league soon. 'Time will tell' on Friday Cymru Premier project Friday night Cymru Premier games - a good or bad move? FAW's Mooney excited for Cymru Premier expansion New format Under the new format the 16 teams will play each other home and away with the final round of games on Friday, 26 March. After that the league will divide into three tiers of six, four and six clubs to contest the title, European qualification and relegation. The top six in the Cymru Premier – the 'Championship Race' – will play each other once more, with the team top of the table after the 35th matchday crowned champions. Clubs ranked second to sixth will qualify for at least the end-of-season European qualification play-offs. Clubs ranked seventh to 10th – the 'European Challenger' – will play each other once more, with the club placed seventh after matchday 33 claiming the final spot in the end-of-season European qualification play-offs. Finally, clubs ranked 11th to 16th – the 'Survival Zone' – will also play each other once more. At the end of matchday 35, the clubs in 15th and 16th will be automatically relegated. The club finishing 14th will compete in a relegation play-off for the right to remain in the Cymru Premier, against the winner of a tie between the runner-up in the Cymru North and runner-up in the Cymru South.