Lincoln City now have clarity on when the 2026/27 campaign will get underway after the EFL confirmed the key kick-off dates for next season.
For the Imps, the first competitive action of the new season will come via the Carabao Cup, as it did in 2020/21. Unusually, it opens the EFL calendar before the league programme begins. Round One of the competition is scheduled to take place across the weekend of 7–9 August 2026, giving City an early chance to build momentum under the lights before league points are on the line.
League football will follow a week later, with the Sky Bet League One season beginning over the weekend of 14–16 August. That date will mark the official start of Lincoln’s league campaign, as supporters make their first journeys of the season either to the Bank or on the road, depending on the fixture list.
Having been at home for the first game of this season, it is likely that will be an away trip, but with the fixture list, you never quite know.
The EFL Trophy will take place later in the calendar. City can expect their first fixture in that tournament during the week commencing 21 September, continuing a competition that has previously offered valuable minutes for younger players alongside experienced squad members. The lateness of the big kick-off suggests the possibility of a few late summer evening games.
In full, the EFL confirmed the following start dates for the 2026/27 season:
Carabao Cup Round One: 7–9 August 2026
Sky Bet League One (alongside the Championship and League Two): 14–16 August 2026
Vertu Trophy: week commencing 21 September 2026
While fixtures and exact opponents will be confirmed later in the year, these dates allow City supporters to start planning for the new season, for instance, booking tickets to Gig in a Field 2026 again!