Brighton versus Aston Villa and Manchester City versus Bournemouth were scheduled for 23 August 2026.
Both matches formed the Sunday afternoon section of the 2026–27 Premier League opening round. They were listed for simultaneous 14:00 kickoffs, followed later that day by Newcastle United v Liverpool at 16:30.
Brighton’s fixture was affected by the club’s participation in the UEFA Conference League qualifying play-offs. The Premier League announcement specifically noted that Brighton’s European involvement influenced the scheduling of its opening match.
The date should not be confused with 21 August, when Arsenal played Coventry City, or 22 August, when five matches were scheduled. The round ended on 24 August with Fulham v Chelsea.