Peacock and NBC Sports are getting ready for another Premier League season, and the lineup is packed with familiar faces, big matchups, and a few streaming features fans should notice right away. The 2026-27 Premier League season kicks off Friday, August 21, across NBCUniversal platforms, with the NBC Sports studio team on-site in the U.K. for opening-weekend coverage.
One of the biggest themes heading into the new season is the Premier League’s continued connection to the World Cup. NBC Sports says the league had more players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup than any other league, with 182 players either having played in the league last season or expected to feature this season. That gives opening weekend an extra layer of relevance coming off the summer’s biggest soccer event.
Opening weekend headlines
NBC Sports is wasting no time with the marquee matchups. Defending champions Arsenal open at home against Coventry City on Friday, Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network. Then on Saturday, Aug. 22, Spurs visit Brentford at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Other early fixtures include Hull City vs. Manchester United, Ipswich Town vs. Sunderland on Peacock, Manchester City vs. Bournemouth, Newcastle vs. Liverpool, and Chelsea vs. Fulham.
NBC Sports is starting strong with several major matchups right away:
- Defending champions Arsenal open at home against Coventry City on Friday, August 21 at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
- On Saturday, August 22, Spurs travel to Brentford at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
- Other early games include Hull City vs. Manchester United, Ipswich Town vs. Sunderland on Peacock, Manchester City vs. Bournemouth, Newcastle vs. Liverpool, and Chelsea vs. Fulham.
Other storylines worth watching include Arsenal’s opener featuring Mikel Arteta, David Raya, and Declan Rice, while Coventry City are back in the Premier League under Frank Lampard for the first time in 25 years. Manchester City’s first match includes Erling Haaland and Rodri, and Liverpool begin a new chapter under Andoni Iraola.
NBC Sports is bringing the studio crew to the U.K.
Another familiar part of NBC Sports’ Premier League coverage is returning this season. Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Tim Howard will be on the ground in the U.K. for pitch-side coverage throughout opening weekend. The broadcasts begin Friday at Emirates Stadium, continue Saturday at Gtech Community Stadium, and finish Sunday at St. James’ Park.
That live, on-location setup has become one of the most popular parts of NBC’s soccer coverage, and the network appears to be leaning into it again. The idea is to give viewers analysis and reaction from the stadiums themselves rather than relying only on a studio back in the United States.
Peacock’s streaming extras are back
For Peacock subscribers, one of the biggest updates is the return of Multiview for Premier League matches. NBC Sports also says features like Catch Up with Key Plays and Live Actions will remain available, giving fans more ways to follow along in real time.
Peacock is also expanding Premier League Live Picks on mobile. Fans can make weekly predictions starting Monday morning of each Matchweek, lock them in by Saturday at 10 a.m. ET, and then see how they did when results are revealed on Sunday afternoon. NBC Sports says the feature is available through the Peacock mobile app.
Podcasts and studio shows are returning too
NBC Sports also confirmed that The 2 Robbies Podcast will be back the week of August 17 with a season preview episode. Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe will then recap the opening weekend from St. James’ Park and continue breaking down the biggest storylines after each Matchweek.
The Men in Blazers Show is also returning for its 13th season on Peacock, adding another familiar layer to NBCUniversal’s soccer coverage. Between the TV broadcasts, Peacock features, podcasts, and studio shows, NBC is the streaming destination for Premier League coverage that stretches well beyond the live matches themselves.
For fans, that means a packed opening month, plenty of big clubs on the schedule right away, and a streaming experience that keeps getting more interactive. If the World Cup introduced more viewers to soccer, NBCU is clearly betting that the Premier League will be where many of them stay. And you can stream all of the action with Peacock Premium, starting at $10.99/mo or $109.99/year.
Premier League Opening Weekend 2026 Coverage
All times ET, subject to change*
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platform |
| Fri., Aug. 21 | 3 p.m. | Arsenal v. Coventry City | USA Network |
| Sat., Aug. 22 | 7:30 a.m. | Hull City v. Manchester United | USA Network |
| Sat., Aug. 22 | 10 a.m. | Everton v. Crystal Palace | USA Network |
| Sat., Aug. 22 | 10 a.m. | Nottingham Forest v. Leeds United* | Peacock, NBCSN |
| Sat., Aug. 22 | 10 a.m. | Ipswich Town v. Sunderland* | Peacock, NBCSN^ |
| Sat., Aug. 22 | 12:30 p.m. | Brentford v. Spurs | NBC, Peacock |
| Sun., Aug. 23 | 9 a.m. | Manchester City v. Bournemouth | USA Network |
| Sun., Aug. 23 | 9 a.m. | Brighton v. Aston Villa | Peacock |
| Sun., Aug. 23 | 11:30 a.m. | Newcastle v. Liverpool | USA Network |
| Mon., Aug. 24 | 3 p.m. | Fulham v. Chelsea | USA Network |
*Available on Premier League Multiview
^ Available to select NBCSN subscribers