Coventry City returned to the Premier League after the longest absence before the 2026–27 opening weekend.
Coventry’s return followed a 25-year absence from the top flight. The Sky Blues began their comeback campaign in the most prominent possible fixture, visiting defending champions Arsenal in the season opener at Emirates Stadium.
The other promoted clubs had much shorter gaps. Ipswich Town returned after one year, while Hull City returned after nine years. This makes Coventry the clear answer when the promoted teams are compared by time away from the Premier League.
The club’s promotion was also historically significant because Coventry had not appeared in the Premier League since the competition’s earlier era. Their opening fixture against Arsenal therefore linked a long-awaited return with the first match of the entire 2026–27 season.