Teams promoted to Premier League: Clubs coming up from EFL Championship in 2026

Q: Which teams are likely to be promoted to the Premier League in 2026?

The specific teams that will be promoted are yet to be determined, as the season is ongoing.

Q: What are the benefits of being promoted to the Premier League?

Promotion to the Premier League brings increased prestige and substantial financial rewards for the clubs.

Q: How many teams are promoted from the EFL Championship each year?

Each year, three teams are promoted from the EFL Championship to the Premier League.

Q: When does the promotion to the Premier League take effect?

The promotion will take effect at the end of the 2025/26 season for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.

Teams promoted to Premier League: Clubs coming up from EFL Championship in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For clubs in the lower leagues of England, earning a spot in the Premier League is like reaching the promised land.

Each year, three teams are brought up from the second tier of English football, known as the EFL Championship, to replace the three relegated sides that get sent down from the top flight.

Promotion to the Premier League not only comes with a massive boost in club prestige, but also brings along with it a massive financial windfall, as the three new participants are able to reap the benefits of the Premier League's financial might.

The Sporting News brings you a look at who is in line to earn promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2025/26 season, set to be brought into the top level of football competition for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.

MORE:A look at the Premier League teams to be relegated from the EPL in 2026

Premier League teams promoted 2026

On April 17, it was confirmed that Coventry City had been promoted back to the English top flight as they drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers to put them 10 points clear at the top of the Championship table.

The race for the second place in the standings was still extremely tight with just a few matches remaining in the season.

Millwall sat in second on 76 points, but Ipswich Town just a point back in third have two games in hand, meaning they hold the keys to the final automatic promotion slot.

Table updated as of all matches on Saturday, April 18, 2026.


Pos.	Club	GP	Pts	W-D-L	GD
1.	Coventry City*	43	86	25-11-7	+42
2.	Millwall	43	76	22-10-11	+11
3.	Ipswich Town	41	75	21-12-8	+29
4.	Southampton	43	75	21-12-10	+24
5.	Middlesbrough	42

* Mathematically confirmed promotion to the Premier League

Who will make the Championship playoff?

After the top-two spots earn automatic promotion, clubs who finish third through sixth will reach the four-team promotion playoff, competing to earn the final spot.

No team has yet to mathematically confirm a place in the playoff, as second-place Millwall can still hypothetically finish as low as seventh, while Ipswich Town, Southampton, and Middlesbrough below them can all hypothetically fall as far as eighth.

Race for Championship promotion playoff

Updated as of all matches on Saturday, April 18, 2026.


Pos.	Club	GP	Pts	W-D-L	GD
2.	Millwall	43	76	22-10-11	+11
3.	Ipswich Town	41	75	21-12-8	+29
4.	Southampton	43	75	21-12-10	+24
5.	Middlesbrough	42	72	20-12-10	+20
6.	Hull City	43

* Mathematically confirmed a place in at least the Championship playoff

When is the Championship playoff?

With the final day of Championship regular season action set for May 2, the promotion playoffs will take place across the middle of the month.

The first legs of the semifinals will be held on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, while the return legs will be held the following Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12.

Then, the final will be held on May 23 at Wembley Stadium.