Coventry City had been absent from the Premier League for 25 years before the 2026–27 opening weekend.
Coventry returned to the top flight after winning promotion from the Championship. Their comeback was marked by an especially demanding first fixture: they opened away to defending champions Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The club’s previous Premier League spell had ended in 2001, when Coventry were relegated after the 2000–01 season. Their return in 2026 therefore represented a quarter-century wait between top-flight campaigns.
Coventry were one of three promoted clubs in 2026–27. Ipswich Town had been away for one year, while Hull City had been absent for nine years. Those different gaps are a common source of confusion when comparing the promoted teams.