Ipswich Town played Sunderland in their first Premier League match after returning to the top flight in 2026–27.
The fixture took place at Portman Road on Saturday 22 August 2026. Ipswich had returned to the Premier League after an absence of one year, making their opening match an immediate test against another club with a strong English football history.
Ipswich won 2–1. The match was one of three opening-round fixtures scheduled for a 15:00 start on Saturday, alongside Nottingham Forest versus Leeds United and Everton versus Crystal Palace.
Ipswich’s return is distinct from those of Coventry City and Hull City. Coventry had been away for 25 years, while Hull had been absent for nine years. Ipswich’s gap was only one season, making Sunderland the opponent in their first match back rather than a fellow promoted club.