Coventry City had been away from the Premier League for 25 years before the 2026–27 season.
Coventry returned to the top flight after winning promotion from the Championship. Their first match back was especially dramatic because it was away to Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, in the season opener.
The club’s absence had included difficult periods beyond ordinary relegation. Coventry fell to the fourth tier, entered administration and twice lost access to its home ground, the Ricoh Arena. Their eventual return therefore represented a major reversal in the club’s fortunes.
Coventry’s 25-year gap was described as the longest absence by a former Premier League club returning during the Premier League era. The club had previously played in the competition before dropping out of the top flight.