Manchester City were scheduled to face Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on the 2026–27 Premier League opening Sunday.
The match was set for Sunday, 23 August 2026, with a 14:00 BST kick-off. It was one of two matches in that time slot, alongside Brighton & Hove Albion versus Aston Villa.
The Etihad Stadium is Manchester City’s home ground and is located in Manchester. Bournemouth’s home venue is Dean Court, commonly known as the Vitality Stadium, so Bournemouth travelled north for the opening fixture.
Manchester City began the season under a new manager, Enzo Maresca, after Pep Guardiola’s departure. Bournemouth also entered the campaign with a new head coach, Marco Rose, making the match notable for changes on both benches.