Brighton & Hove Albion versus Aston Villa was scheduled to kick off at 14:00 BST in the 2026–27 Premier League opener.
The match was set for Sunday 23 August 2026 at Brighton’s Falmer Stadium. Manchester City versus AFC Bournemouth was scheduled for the same kickoff time on that Sunday.
The Premier League explained that Brighton’s participation in UEFA Conference League qualifying play-offs on the preceding Thursday affected the scheduling. The Sunday placement allowed the league to avoid a tighter turnaround.
The time should not be confused with the 16:30 start assigned to Newcastle United versus Liverpool later that day. Saturday’s late fixture, Brentford versus Tottenham Hotspur, was scheduled for 17:30 BST.