Sunderland Premier League 2025/26 fixtures

Sunderland's Premier League fixture list for the 2025/26 season has been released, with the Black Cats taking on West Ham at home on the opening Saturday of the season.

Sunderland 2025/26 Premier League fixtures

After an eight-year absence, Sunderland fans won't be too disheartened by their welcome back to the Premier League, not facing any of the big hitters until October.

Sunderland start at home to West Ham, who'll desperately look to rebuild on last season, before travelling to fellow newly promoted club Burnley.

Sunderland beat Burnley last August before earning a point at Turf Moor in the January, and with a home clash with Brentford following, it's not impossible that Regis Le Bris's side remain unbeaten through September.

Things do stiffen up following the international break, however. The Black Cats face the long journey to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace before hosting Aston Villa. They'll then face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground before heading to Old Trafford to tackle Manchester United before the second international break of the season.

Refreshed from the international break, Sunderland host Wolves before heading to Stamford Bridge. They'll then take on Everton and Arsenal at home before the November international break.

Then in the run-up to Christmas, the Black Cats travel to Fulham before hosting Bournemouth before a hugely testing 10-day spell in which they'll travel to Liverpool and Manchester City before the Wear-Tyne derby against Newcastle.

In their final game before Christmas, Sunderland travel to Brighton before hosting Championship winners Leeds where they'll have fond memories from last season and Illan Meslier gifted the hosts a point deep into stoppage time.

Sunderland then host Manchester City before the new year, at which point they'll travel to Tottenham and Brentford in the space of a week.

Sunderland take on Crystal Palace, West Ham and Burnley in what will be a crucial two-week spell in their quest for survival before more testing games with Arsenal away and Liverpool at home in February.

Another big spell comes towards the end of February, hosting Fulham, travelling to Bournemouth, visiting Leeds and then hosting Brighton before the second derby of the season as the Mackems make the short trip to St James' Park.

Le Bris's side then host Tottenham and travel to Aston Villa before a home tie with Nottingham Forest as the run-in ramps up.

Sunderland will hope to have put up a better fight then the previous play-off winners, who were as good as down before Christmas. Their May fixtures read Wolves away, Manchester United at home, Everton away before rounding off the season at home to Chelsea.

There will no doubt be certain clusters of fixtures targeted by Le Bris as crucial in his side's bid for survival but he'll have to weather a storm on the road after the opening few weeks.

In the midst of winter, the travelling Sunderland fans' patience may have been well and truly tested as the season reaches its halfway point, with a run of away games that reads Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Chelsea, Fulham, Liverpool and Manchester City before two more long journeys down the M1 to Brighton, Tottenham, Brentford, West Ham and Arsenal before things finally ease up with the much shorter trip to Elland Road to take on Leeds at the start of March.

Liam Williams

• Sunderland A.F.C.
• Premier League
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