Hull City returned to the Premier League after a nine-year absence in 2026–27.
Hull were promoted after winning the Championship play-off final, securing their place in the top flight alongside automatic promotion winners Coventry City and Ipswich Town. Their return ended a nine-year spell away from the Premier League.
Hull’s opening-round fixture was a home match against Manchester United on Saturday 22 August 2026. The game was scheduled as the first Saturday lunchtime fixture and gave the promoted club an immediate high-profile opponent.
The three promoted clubs had different recent histories. Coventry returned after 25 years, Ipswich after one year, and Hull after nine years. That distinction makes Hull the answer to this specific absence question.