The Premier League has 20 clubs. In 2026/27, each club plays 38 league matches by facing 19 opponents home and away, and the bottom 3 clubs are relegated to the EFL while 3 clubs join for the next season, keeping the league at 20.
The 20 Premier League clubs in 2026/27
| Club | Status for 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Arsenal | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Aston Villa | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Brentford | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Chelsea | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Coventry City | Joined for 2026/27 |
| Crystal Palace | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Everton | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Fulham | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Hull City | Joined for 2026/27 |
| Ipswich Town | Joined for 2026/27 |
| Leeds United | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Liverpool | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Manchester City | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Manchester United | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Newcastle United | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Nottingham Forest | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Sunderland | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Also in the league in 2025/26 |
Seventeen of those clubs were also in the league in 2025/26. The 3 new arrivals for 2026/27 are Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town, replacing West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who finished 18th, 19th and 20th in 2025/26.
How the 20-club format works
| Item | Rule or outcome |
|---|---|
| Fixtures against each opponent | 2 matches, 1 at home and 1 away |
| League matches per club | 38 |
| Total league matches in a season | 380 |
| Points system | 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw |
| Relegation rule | The bottom 3 clubs in the final table are relegated to the EFL |
The structure is balanced because every club meets the same set of opponents under the same home-and-away split. League position then comes from points collected across the full season rather than from a knockout bracket.
Why the Premier League stays at 20 clubs
The league size is kept steady by the promotion and relegation cycle. 3 clubs go down at the end of the season and 3 clubs come in for the next one, so the total does not change.
Historically, the competition began with 22 clubs in each of its first 3 seasons: 1992/93, 1993/94 and 1994/95. It moved to 20 clubs in 1995/96 and has stayed at 20 in every season since then, covering 31 seasons up to 2025/26.
FAQ
How many teams get promoted to the Premier League each season?
3 clubs join each season. For 2026/27, those clubs are Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town.
How many teams get relegated from the Premier League?
3 clubs are relegated each season. Under the league rules for 2026/27, the clubs that finish in the bottom 3 places go down to the EFL.
Is EPL the same as the Premier League?
Yes. EPL is a common short form, while the competition's formal name is the Premier League.
How many matches are there in a Premier League season?
There are 380 league matches in a season. That total comes from a 20-club double round-robin format and does not include cup competitions.
