The format for the 2026/27 Championship season is officially locked in — and it’s shaping up to be a seriously exciting campaign.

The league will now feature 16 teams, with the George Wilson Cup running across 37 rounds. There’s plenty on the line too — the bottom two sides will be automatically relegated, while the team finishing 14th won’t be safe either, facing a tense play-off against the National Conference League runners-up.

At the top end, the promotion race stays just as dramatic. Win the league, and you’re straight up to the Premiership. Finish second, and it’s not over yet — you’ll have to battle it out over two legs against the Premiership’s second-bottom side for a spot in the top flight.

The season kicks off on the weekend of August 8, 2026, with each team playing 30 games home and away. After that, things get even more interesting — the league splits in two, and every club plays an extra seven matches based on where they sit in the table. So expect plenty of twists, turns, and high-stakes football right to the very end.

And with the lineup confirmed, there’s no shortage of storylines. Glenavon drop into the Championship looking to bounce straight back, while a wave of new teams — including Moyola Park, Strabane Athletic, Rathfriland Rangers and Newry City — arrive full of momentum after promotion. Add in established sides like Loughgall, Institute, Ards and Ballinamallard United, and you’ve got all the ingredients for one of the most competitive and unpredictable seasons yet.

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