Tough start, midweek stinkers and Boxing Day cracker: Main takeaways from Burnley's fixture list

It’s fair to say this year’s release of Burnley’s fixture list felt rather underwhelming given the bombshell news that preceded it.

Many Clarets fans are finding it difficult to get too excited about the new season when, two months on from Scott Parker’s departure, the club remains managerless.

It looked as though Craig Bellamy was about to fill that void, but reports state a deal - thought to be in its final stages - has fallen through.

Nevertheless, Burnley must plough on and there’s plenty to get your teeth stuck into, with the 2026/27 fixture list throwing up a tough start against title favourites West Ham.

Back-to-back away games follow against West Brom and Norwich City, before a pair of home games against Middlesbrough and Bristol City.

There’s plenty of other talking points to be had though as we dissect Burnley’s fixture list in full.

Here’s some of the key takeaways:

Tough start

Many of you will be quick to point out, given Burnley’s supreme recent record in the Championship, that they have nothing to be fearful of being back in the second tier - and you’d be correct. But, off the back of winning just four league games last season and winning just one of their last 29 Premier League fixtures, kicking off the new campaign with the title favourites West Ham, followed up by tricky looking away games at West Brom and Norwich City, before another pair of challenging home games against Middlesbrough and Bristol City, certainly presents a testing start. Let’s not forget, by the time the Hammers rock up at Turf Moor, 302 days will have passed since Burnley last tasted three points at home, so this is a side that is used to losing.

Midweek trips and Welsh double header

A return to the Championship usually means one thing, lots of midweek games, with some gruelling and perplexing long trips thrown in. The first batch of games that immediately sprung out to me was in September, when Burnley face back-to-back trips to Wales in the space of four days. The Clarets take on Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Wednesday, September 9 before making the long trek to South Wales to Swansea on Saturday, September 12. Looking further afield, it’s fair to say the fixture computer hasn’t been particularly kind, throwing up midweek trips to QPR, Southampton, Charlton and Middlesbrough.

International breaks and Easter changes

It won’t have escaped your attention that there’s a big gap between games between mid-September and mid-October. That’s because a new three-week international break has been introduced, with countries playing four games across that spell rather than the usual two. In the past, Burnley have been accustomed to enjoying two-week international breaks in September, October and November, but next season only November’s break will stay intact as normal. Staying on the topic of international breaks, there will be no traditional Easter games on Good Friday and Monday as players are away during that time with their countries.

Boxing Day traditions

How refreshing is it to see Burnley make the short trip to Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day? Just like the good old days. The last time the Clarets were in the Championship under Scott Parker, rather than taking on one of their regional rivals, they faced Sheffield United away. Under Vincent Kompany two years prior to that, there was no Boxing Day altogether, with Burnley hosting Birmingham City on December 27, due to it falling on a Saturday. The following season they hosted Liverpool on Boxing Day in the Premier League, which I suppose is local enough. But Bolton feels far more traditional. Speaking of which, taking on the likes of the Trotters, Preston North End and, of course, Blackburn Rovers, is one major positive of being back in the Championship. That and no VAR, of course.