Quick answer: The 2026/27 FA Cup final is scheduled for Saturday 22 May 2027 at Wembley Stadium connected by EE. The competition begins with the Extra Preliminary Round on 8 August 2026 and runs through 14 stages to the final.
FA Cup fixtures and round dates
These are the published round dates for the 2026/27 competition. Dates for individual ties, kick-off times and television selections can differ from the scheduled round date. Check official fixture announcements as each round approaches.
| FA Cup round | Scheduled date |
|---|---|
| Extra Preliminary Round | Saturday 8 August 2026 |
| Preliminary Round | Saturday 22 August 2026 |
| First Round Qualifying | Saturday 5 September 2026 |
| Second Round Qualifying | Saturday 19 September 2026 |
| Third Round Qualifying | Saturday 3 October 2026 |
| Fourth Round Qualifying | Saturday 17 October 2026 |
| First Round Proper | Saturday 7 November 2026 |
| Second Round Proper | Saturday 5 December 2026 |
| Third Round Proper | Saturday 9 January 2027 |
| Fourth Round Proper | Saturday 13 February 2027 |
| Fifth Round Proper | Saturday 6 March 2027 |
| Quarter-Finals | Saturday 3 April 2027 |
| Semi-Finals | Saturday 24 April 2027 |
| Final | Saturday 22 May 2027 |
The dates above are the FA’s scheduled round dates, not a guarantee that every match will be played on that day. Television selections, postponements and other scheduling changes may move ties across the surrounding days. Specific UK kick-off times are announced with fixture details.
For current match coverage, visit Football Score Today’s live scores and fixtures. Check again before a matchday for confirmed kick-off times and any changes.
How many rounds are in the FA Cup?
The 2026/27 FA Cup has 14 stages in its published schedule: six qualifying rounds, followed by eight rounds in the Competition Proper. The qualifying stages are the Extra Preliminary, Preliminary and First to Fourth Qualifying Rounds. The Competition Proper runs from the First Round Proper through to the final.
A round is a stage of the competition, not a single matchday. Ties can be scheduled across more than one day, and later-round fixtures can be moved. The FA Cup round dates provide the calendar framework; fixture announcements provide the match details.
Qualifying rounds: how entry works
The early rounds bring clubs from the lower divisions and non-League football into the competition. Teams enter at different points, according to the competition’s entry and exemption arrangements. Clubs progress by winning their ties; the qualifying rounds narrow the field before the First Round Proper.
The sequence is straightforward: Extra Preliminary, Preliminary, First Qualifying, Second Qualifying, Third Qualifying, Fourth Qualifying. The qualifying rounds are followed by the First Round Proper, when clubs from League One and League Two enter. The FA’s official round dates and competition information are the reference point for the current season’s schedule.
Some qualifying dates have already passed by the time of this guide’s latest check on 27 October 2026. The First Round Proper is next on the published calendar, scheduled for 7 November. The FA has already made its draw; individual match dates and kick-off times should be checked against the latest fixture announcements.
When do Premier League and Championship clubs enter?
Premier League and Championship clubs enter at the Third Round Proper, scheduled for Saturday 9 January 2027. This is the point in the calendar when all 20 Premier League clubs and all 24 Championship clubs join the competition. They are not in the earlier qualifying rounds or the First and Second Rounds Proper.
The Third Round Proper draw pairs those clubs with teams that have progressed through the preceding stages. It is a significant date in the FA Cup calendar, but it is still one round in a longer competition that began in August. Ties and kick-off times for that round will be confirmed closer to January.
The entry stages are sometimes confused: League One and League Two clubs enter at the First Round Proper; Championship and Premier League clubs enter at the Third Round Proper. Earlier rounds feature qualifying and other eligible clubs. For the 2026/27 season, the FA’s exemption information and competition rules set out the entry arrangements.
Where is the FA Cup final played?
The final is scheduled for Saturday 22 May 2027 at Wembley Stadium connected by EE, the national stadium in London. The FA confirmed Wembley as the venue in its 2026/27 round-date announcement.
The final date is subject to official confirmation and any later schedule update. Match kick-off time, ticketing information and broadcast arrangements should be checked through official announcements as the date approaches. Wembley is also the venue for the semi-finals, which are scheduled for 24 April 2027.
FA Cup prize money: 2026/27 basics
The FA has published a 2026/27 prize fund. Payments vary by round and by whether a club wins or loses. As examples, a First Round Proper winner receives £47,750, while a losing club receives £15,800. At the Third Round Proper, the published payments are £121,500 for a winner and £26,500 for a losing club.
The prize fund increases at later stages. The official schedule lists £477,000 for a quarter-final winner, £1.06 million for a semi-final winner and £2.12 million for the final winner. The semi-final losing payment is listed as £530,000, and the final losing payment as £1.06 million. These figures refer to FA prize-fund payments; they are not a forecast of a club’s total income from the competition.
Amounts are specific to the 2026/27 season and should be checked against the FA’s published prize-fund document before use in financial reporting.
FA Cup 2026/27 dates at a glance
August: Extra Preliminary and Preliminary Rounds.
September: First and Second Round Qualifying.
October: Third and Fourth Round Qualifying.
November: First Round Proper.
December: Second Round Proper.
January: Third Round Proper, including Premier League and Championship entrants.
February and March: Fourth and Fifth Rounds Proper.
April: Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals.
May: Final at Wembley.
Round dates, fixture dates, kick-off times, results and draw details are separate updates. For matchday changes and results, follow live football scores and fixtures on Football Score Today. The FA’s official fixtures page and 2026/27 round dates remain the definitive sources for competition scheduling.
Dates and prize-fund information were checked against published FA materials on 27 October 2026. Fixtures, kick-off times and competition arrangements may be updated by the FA.
