The National League is the fifth tier of the English football pyramid and also the highest level of the Non-League system.
Reaching the Football League and competing in League Two is the aim of all clubs in the National League.
The 2025/26 campaign marked one of the most thrilling title battles in recent memory, as York City and Rochdale both surpassed the 100-point mark before the Minstermen ultimately secured top spot following a dramatic finish on the final day.
Despite missing out on an automatic place Rochdale did secure their return to the Football League via the play-offs after beating Boreham Wood on penalties at Wembley.
National League 2026/27 dates
The National League 2026/27 will kick-off in August 2026, with exact dates yet to be confirmed.
National League 2026/27 teams
The confirmed list of teams taking part in the National League 2026/27 campaign will be:
Team | Stadium | Last Season in the EFL |
AFC Fylde | Mill Farm Sports Village | N/A |
Aldershot Town | The Recreation Ground | 2012-13 |
Altrincham | Moss Lane | N/A |
Barrow | Holker Street | 2025-26 |
Boreham Wood | Meadow Park | N/A |
Boston United | Boston Community Stadium | 2006-07 |
Carlisle United | Brunton Park | 2024-25 |
Eastleigh | Ten Acres | N/A |
FC Halifax Town | The Shay | N/A |
Forest Green Rovers | The New Lawn | 2023-24 |
Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | N/A |
Harrogate Town | Wetherby Road | 2025-26 |
Hartlepool United | Victoria Park | 2022-23 |
Hornchurch | Hornchurch Stadium | N/A |
Kidderminster Harriers | Aggborough Stadium | 2004-05 |
Scunthorpe United | Glanford Park | 2021-22 |
Solihull Moors | Damson Park | N/A |
Southend United | Roots Hall | 2020-21 |
Sutton United | Gander Green Lane | 2023-24 |
Tamworth | The Lamb Ground | N/A |
Wealdstone | Grosvenor Vale | N/A |
Woking | Kingfield Stadium | N/A |
Worthing | Woodside Road | N/A |
Yeovil Town | Huish Park | 2018-19 |
National League 2025/26 format
A total of 24 teams compete in the National League, but with only one automatic promotion position available to the champions, it is one of the most notoriously difficult leagues to secure promotion from.
The sides that finish second to seventh do still have a chance of securing promotion to the EFL via the play-offs, with the teams that end the regular campaign between fourth and seventh entering at the quarter-final stage, with fourth hosting seventh and fifth entertaining sixth in one-off ties.
The winners of the two quarter-final ties progress to the play-off semi-finals where the teams that finished the regular season in second and third enter the equation, with those higher-ranked sides having the luxury of playing at home.
Whichever teams prevail from those semi-final ties then meet in the final at Wembley, where the winner will secure promotion to League Two.
At the other end of the table there are also relegation positions to fill, with the bottom four teams in the final standings dropping down to either the National League North or South, depending on their geographical location.
National League history
The 2026/27 season is the 48th National League campaign, with the first having taken place during 1979/80 when Altrincham were crowned champions.
Scarborough were the first team to be promoted to the Football League as champions, with Neil Warnock leading the club to the title in 1986/87.
It is also the 12h season since the division was rebranded to the National League from the Football Conference.
Barnet and Macclesfield Town are the most successful clubs in the National League's history, as they have both won the title on three occasions.
A further seven sides have lifted the championship twice - Lincoln City, Cheltenham Town, Stevenage (then Stevenage Borough), Kidderminster Harriers, Maidstone United, Enfield and Altrincham.
