Championship play-offs change explained: How revamped 2026/27 format from top six to top eight will work

Sky Sports' Simeon Gholam explains all you need to know on how the play-offs have changed this season in the Championship

The 2026/27 Championship season is here - and the play-offs are changing in one significant twist for the new term.

EFL clubs voted in March to expand the play-offs from four to six teams from 26/27 onwards - marking the first change to the second-tier format since 1990, when the final was switched to Wembley for a one-off tie, having previously been a two-legged affair.

The Championship this term has adopted a similar model to the one in the National League, with eliminator matches included before the semi-final stage. Here's what you need to know...

Who will be promoted automatically?

That won't change - the top two in the Championship will be promoted to the Premier League as normal.

Who qualifies for the play-offs?

Six teams will now qualify for the play-offs - from positions three to eight.

The teams who finish third and fourth retain an advantage - they progress directly to the semi-finals.

What is the new play-off format?

The new format will start with two eliminator ties: fifth vs eighth and sixth vs seventh. These eliminators are one-legged games that will take place at the home of the side who finished higher.

The winners of the eliminator ties progress to the semi-finals, to face third and fourth in two-legged ties with the second leg at the home of the side that finishes higher up the league.

Crucially, the third-placed team will face the lowest-ranked remaining team in the semi-finals.

So if eighth beats fifth, and sixth beats seventh in the eliminators, third will face eighth and fourth will face sixth. There is no pre-set path for the semi-finals before the eliminators.

As usual, the winners of the two semi-finals will meet at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.

When are the 26/27 Championship play-offs?

The EFL has yet to confirm the dates but the play-offs will take place as usual in May.

The Championship regular season concludes on Saturday May 1 (kick-off 12.30pm) and on Saturday May 8 for League One (kick-off 12:30pm) and League Two (kick-off 3pm).

How likely is a side finishing eighth to get promoted?

Analysis from Sky Sports EFL editor Simeon Gholam:

"While there remains the possibility that a team finishing eighth could reach the Premier League, it wouldn't be a huge difference to a team finishing sixth doing the same - and that's rare.

"Hull City were just the third side in the Championship era last season to do it, and there was very little difference between themselves and the sides they pipped into sixth on the final day of the season in Wrexham and Derby.

"Questions have been raised over whether a team that finishes eighth could be competitive in the Premier League, but Sunderland showed last season that it is really just about what you do once you get there that determines that.

"This is a huge change - but I like the fact there is a real competitive advantage to finishing third or fourth in the league, avoiding the eliminator ties rather than just getting a second leg at home in the semi-finals."

Watch & follow the EFL on Sky Sports

The 2026/27 EFL season kicks off this weekend, starting with Wolves vs Blackburn from the Championship on Friday night.

Every Championship, League One and League Two game is live on Sky throughout the opening weekend, with more than 1,000 live games from the EFL, Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy on Sky Sports. Throughout the season

* Matches will be broadcast live across Sky Sports main channels or on Sky Sports+

* Every EFL match which is shown on Sky Sports will also be available on the Sky Sports app📱.

* Non-Sky customers can watch the EFL with flexible contract offers on NOW

Fans can watch free highlights on the free Sky Sports App after every match round, as well as getting debate and analysis with the Essential EFL podcast and The EFL Show on Sky Sports News, a new weekly slot every Monday from 2pm.

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Orijinal haber: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11697/13571710/championship-play-offs-change-explained-how-revamped-2026-27-format-from-top-six-to-top-eight-will-work