Hull City returned to the Premier League after nine years for their 2026–27 opening match.
Hull marked their return by hosting Manchester United at MKM Stadium on Saturday 22 August 2026. They won 2–0, turning the club’s first top-flight match since their previous spell into a memorable occasion.
The nine-year gap refers to the period since Hull’s last Premier League campaign, rather than the number of seasons between individual matches. Hull had previously competed in the Premier League before dropping out of the division, then regained promotion for 2026–27.
Their opening victory also made Hull one of two promoted teams to win on the first Saturday. Ipswich Town defeated Sunderland 2–1 later that day. Coventry City began the season with Arsenal, while Leeds United also won away at Nottingham Forest.