The 2026 season of the top-flight football league in France, Ligue 1, is set to begin on September 18th, 2025. The schedule for the upcoming season has been confirmed by French Football Federation (FFF), and it features some exciting developments.

One of the most notable changes in the schedule is the introduction of new clubs into the league. In the 2024-25 season, 10 new clubs joined the league, bringing the total number of teams from 20 to 21. These clubs include Olympique de Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, Paris FC, Nice, Monaco, Lyon, Stade de Reims, AS Monaco, and Grenoble.

Another significant change is the promotion/relegation system. The current system allows for two promotions (the champions and the runners-up) and two relegations (the lowest-placed team and the highest-placed team). However, in the 2026 season, this system will be changed with a new system that will allow for more games and less chance of relegation.

In addition to these changes, there have also been some updates to the fixture lists. For example, the matchday 1 fixtures were moved back to August 19th, 2025 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The schedule for the rest of the fixtures remain unchanged.

Overall, the 2026 season of Ligue 1 looks like it will be a thrilling one with many surprises and upsets. It's expected that the league will continue to grow and develop as the season progresses, and we can look forward to seeing some exciting matches and performances from our beloved teams.