Ipswich Town returned to the Premier League by opening the 2026–27 season against Sunderland.
Ipswich hosted Sunderland on Saturday 22 August 2026 in one of the three fixtures scheduled for 15:00 BST. It was Ipswich’s first Premier League match after a one-year absence from the top flight.
The fixture connected two clubs with substantial English football histories. Ipswich were one of the three promoted teams for 2026–27, alongside Coventry City and Hull City. Sunderland were already members of the Premier League lineup for the season, while Ipswich’s promotion restored them to the division.
The promoted clubs had different opening assignments. Coventry began at defending champions Arsenal, Hull hosted Manchester United in the first Saturday lunchtime game, and Ipswich hosted Sunderland. Leeds United, another club appearing in the opening round, were not promoted for this season; they faced Nottingham Forest away.