Why have the Premier League announced Christmas fixtures early?

There will be seven fixtures on Boxing Day this season, six more than there were last term [Getty Images] The Premier League have announced the fixtures taking place over the festive period for the 2026-27 season, more than a month earlier than the release was initially scheduled for. The league were due to announce the finalised fixture times and dates for the whole of December and January in the week commencing Monday, 19 October. That period covers game weeks 13 to 20. However, the fixture dates and times for rounds 17, 18, 19 and 20 have now been released. This covers all matches taking place between Boxing Day and Thursday, 7 January. A statement from the Premier League reads: "This comes after the league and our broadcast partners agreed to bring forward the selection process for live UK matches across match rounds 17 to 20, which run from 26 December to 7 January. "This fixture announcement gives supporters more than three months' notice to plan and make travel arrangements for a particularly busy time of the year and follows consultation with the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards." The remaining fixtures taking earlier in December, as well as those in November, will still be announced on their scheduled dates. A total of seven matches will take place on Boxing Day, with one taking place on New Year's Day. What are the Premier League's Christmas and New Year fixtures? Saturday, 26 December Aston Villa v Leeds (12:30) Everton v Sunderland (15:00) Fulham v Brighton (15:00) Ipswich v Brentford (15:00) Spurs v AFC Bournemouth (15:00) 17:30 Hull v Liverpool (17:30) 20:00 Newcastle v Manchester City (20:00) Sunday, 27 December Coventry v Chelsea (14:00) Manchester Utd v Nottingham Forest (16:30) Crystal Palace v Arsenal (19:00) Tuesday, 29 December Hull v Leeds (19:30) Spurs v Brighton (19:30) Everton v Manchester City (20:15) Wednesday, 30 December Coventry v Brentford (19:30) Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth (19:30) Fulham v Arsenal (19:30) Manchester United v Sunderland (19:30) Newcastle v Nottingham Forest (19:30) Aston Villa v Liverpool (20:15) Ipswich v Chelsea (20:15) Friday, 1 January Leeds v Everton (20:00) Saturday, 2 January Brighton v Manchester United (12:30) Arsenal v Ipswich (15:00) Brentford v Crystal Palace (15:00) Liverpool v Coventry (15:00) Nottingham Forest v Fulham (15:00) Sunderland v Hull (15:00) AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa (17:30) Sunday, 3 January Chelsea v Newcastle (14:00) Manchester City v Spurs (16:30) Tuesday, 5 January Arsenal v Brentford (19:30) Brighton v AFC Bournemouth (19:30) Everton v Aston Villa (19:30) Nottingham Forest v Hull (19:30) Sunderland v Liverpool (20:15) Wednesday, 6 January Crystal Palace v Chelsea (19:30) Fulham v Spurs (19:30) Ipswich v Coventry (19:30) Leeds v Manchester City (20:15) Thursday, 7 January Manchester United v Newcastle (20:00) This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. More questions answered... How to follow the Premier League on the BBC this weekend Why are there Champions League games on Thursday? Who are the record Champions League goalscorers? When is the EFL Cup fourth-round draw?