UEFA has confirmed that the draw for the league phase of the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League will occur on Thursday, August 27, 2026. This event will take place right after the qualification rounds conclude.

Competition Format and Team Participation

The upcoming Champions League will see 36 clubs participating in a single-league format. Currently, 29 teams have already earned direct entry into the league stage, while the remaining seven spots will be filled through qualifying playoffs that finish on August 26, 2026. This season will continue with the updated unified league format, which replaces the traditional group stage. In this new structure, all teams will be ranked in a single standings table.

Path to the Knockout Phase

Teams that finish in the top eight positions will qualify directly for the round of 16. Meanwhile, clubs that rank from ninth to twenty-fourth will enter a two-legged playoff round to compete for the last eight places in the knockout stage.

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will return as titleholders, having secured the trophy last season with a thrilling penalty shootout win against Arsenal.