The Scottish Premiership 2025-26 season promises to be an exhilarating journey for football fans across Scotland. With the fixtures now unveiled, the excitement is palpable as supporters eagerly update their social diaries and plan their match-day itineraries.

Season Openers

This season's opening weekend is packed with action, featuring three distinct kick-off days. Kilmarnock hosts Livingston and Motherwell takes on Russell Martin's Rangers on Saturday. The action continues on Sunday with defending champions Celtic facing St Mirren, and concludes on Monday with Hearts and Aberdeen bringing the weekend to a close. Notably, only the Kilmarnock v Livingston match kicks off at the traditional 3pm BST slot on Saturday, a rarity in today's televised football landscape.

First Old Firm Game

The first Old Firm derby of the season is set for 31 August at Ibrox, with a noon kick-off. This clash is particularly anticipated as it marks Russell Martin's first Old Firm as Rangers' manager. Both teams will be coming off European qualifiers, adding an extra layer of intensity to this historic rivalry.

Key Rivalries

Other city derbies to watch include the Dundee derby on 30 August and the Edinburgh derby in early October. The Edinburgh derby will see new Hearts boss Derek McInnes making his debut in this fierce rivalry.

Tough Starts

Analyzing the opening fixtures, St Mirren appears to have the toughest start, facing Celtic, Rangers, and an away trip to Easter Road in their first four games. Dundee and Motherwell also face challenging beginnings, with tough matches against Rangers and Hibs respectively.

Festive Fixtures

The festive period will see a full card of matches on 27 December, highlighted by the Edinburgh derby. The new year kicks off with the Dundee and Glasgow derbies on 3 January, promising a blockbuster start to 2026.

Potential Changes

Fans should remain vigilant as television commitments and European football could lead to fixture changes. Celtic and Aberdeen are guaranteed group stage football, which may result in several rescheduled matches.

Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling season in the Scottish Premiership!