Northampton Saints host Newcastle on Prem opening night
Champions Northampton Saints will host Newcastle Red Bulls at Franklin's Gardens on Friday, 25 September 2026 (19:45 BST), kicking off the 2026-27 Gallagher Prem season. The title holders open at home after beating Exeter in June's final, with tickets rolling out from late July.
According to BBC Sport, Saints lifted the Prem trophy for the second time in three seasons in June and begin the new campaign under Friday night lights against Newcastle Red Bulls. The club confirmed the same opener at Franklin's Gardens as PREM Rugby released dates and kick-off times for the first nine rounds.
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Key Takeaways
- Northampton Saints open at home to Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday, 25 September 2026 at 19:45 BST.
- Reigning champions beat Exeter Chiefs 26-17 in June's Allianz Stadium final to claim a second title in three years.
- Opening weekend also features Harlequins v Bath, Exeter v Gloucester, Sale v Bristol and Leicester v Saracens.
- The 2026-27 Prem final is set for Saturday, 19 June 2027 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
- Promotion and relegation are officially scrapped as the league moves toward a franchise-style model.
When do Northampton Saints kick off the new season?
Northampton Saints raise the curtain in Round 1 at Franklin's Gardens, welcoming Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday, 25 September at 19:45 BST. Saints enter as reigning champions after defeating Exeter Chiefs 26-17 in the Final at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) in June — their third Prem title after crowns in 2014 and 2024.
Round 2 takes Saints on the road to Bristol Bears, before Bath Rugby visit the Gardens ahead of the first Investec Champions Cup break. Round 4 brings the first East Midlands derby at Leicester Tigers on Saturday 24 October (15:05), with the return fixture in Northampton on the weekend of 7–9 May. In Round 8, Saints feature in Harlequins' Big Game at Allianz Stadium.
Season Ticket Holders could buy tickets for the Newcastle opener from Tuesday 28 July, Members from Tuesday 4 August, and general sale from Tuesday 11 August. TNT Sports has selected Saints' early matches for live TV, with other games streamed live on HBO Max.
What else happens on the Gallagher Prem opening weekend?
Friday also sees Harlequins host Bath at 19:45 BST. Saturday brings Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester at Sandy Park (15:05) and Sale Sharks v Bristol (17:30). Sunday's sole fixture is Leicester Tigers v Saracens at Mattioli Woods Welford Road (15:00), as Leicester's club site also confirmed.
A handful of later fixtures will use major stadiums. Harlequins stage two Big Games at Allianz Stadium, starting against Northampton, and host the Prem's first Monday night fixture on 28 December. They return to Allianz Stadium to play Newcastle in round 15 in May. Gloucester hope to face Leicester for the Slater Cup around 27 March, pending venue confirmation, while Bristol host Gloucester at Principality Stadium in round 13.
How is the 2026-27 Prem calendar shaped?
After five rounds in six weeks through September and October, the Prem pauses four weeks in November for Nations Championship autumn matches. European competition starts in December, with four Prem rounds across six weeks into January, then a 10-week league break in February and March for the Six Nations. The final is scheduled for Saturday, 19 June 2027 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Promotion and relegation are formally abolished from 2026-27 after February votes, accelerating a franchise-style model. Prem Rugby CEO Simon Massie-Taylor cited sold-out finals, investment, broadcast audiences and younger fans, plus plans to expand the league by 2029/30.
Fixtures for rounds 10–18 are listed without all specific dates and times yet. For Northampton Saints fans, the headline is clear: title defence starts at home, on a Friday night, against Newcastle Red Bulls.