The Premier League is the top tier of English football, with 20 clubs playing 38 league matches each. The Championship is the second tier, run by the EFL, with 24 clubs playing 46 league matches each. Every season, 3 clubs go down from the Premier League and 3 come up from the Championship.
Tier, organiser and league size
The clearest difference is where each division sits in the English pyramid. The Premier League is the top level, while the Championship sits directly below it and is organised by the EFL rather than the Premier League.
| Category | Premier League | Championship |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | 1st | 2nd |
| Run by | The Premier League | The EFL |
| Clubs | 20 | 24 |
| League matches per club | 38 | 46 |
The Premier League season runs from August to May and contains 380 matches in total. The Championship has more clubs, so each side plays a longer regular league schedule.
How the season ends in each division
The two divisions connect through promotion and relegation, but the end-of-season outcomes are different. In the Premier League, the focus is on the bottom of the table. In the Championship, the key question is which clubs go up.
| Division | End of season outcome |
|---|---|
| Premier League | Bottom 3 relegated to the Championship |
| Championship | Top 2 promoted automatically, with the third promotion place decided by playoffs |
The playoff format has changed. Up to 2025/26, the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th took part, and the final was played at Wembley Stadium. From 2026/27, the playoffs expand to 6 clubs, from 3rd to 8th, and the schedule grows from 5 fixtures to 7.
What movement between the divisions looks like
Each season, 3 clubs swap divisions in each direction. Relegation from the Premier League is direct, while promotion from the Championship comes through 2 automatic places and 1 playoff place.
| 2025/26 movement | Club | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League to Championship | West Ham United | Relegated |
| Premier League to Championship | Burnley | Relegated |
| Premier League to Championship | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Relegated |
| Championship to Premier League | Coventry City | Champions, automatic promotion |
| Championship to Premier League | Ipswich Town | Runners-up, automatic promotion |
| Championship to Premier League | Hull City | Playoff winners, promoted |
Ipswich Town are a good example of how quickly clubs can move between the two levels. They were relegated from the Premier League at the end of 2024/25 after finishing 19th with 22 points, then won promotion straight back in 2025/26.
FAQ
How many teams are in the Championship?
The Championship has 24 clubs. That total also matches the final day of the 2025/26 season, when all 12 matches kicked off at 12:30 BST on 2 May 2026.
How many league games does a Championship club play?
Each Championship club plays 46 league matches in the regular season. That is a longer league programme than the Premier League schedule.
How do clubs go from the Championship to the Premier League?
The clubs finishing 1st and 2nd go up automatically. The third promotion place is decided by the playoffs; up to 2025/26 that meant places 3rd to 6th, and from 2026/27 it means places 3rd to 8th.
Which clubs went down from the Premier League in 2026?
At the end of the 2025/26 season, West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated from the Premier League. Those 3 clubs filled the division’s relegation places for that season.