Check out the 2026 Championship Play-Off schedule and odds to win promotion to the Premier League following the final day's action.
The Championship final day has confirmed the four teams still fighting for the final Premier League promotion place, with Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City heading into the play-offs.
Ipswich Town joined Coventry City in securing automatic promotion, leaving Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull to battle it out for the last place in next season’s Premier League. Hull snatched the final play-off spot after beating Norwich City, while Wrexham’s draw with Middlesbrough opened the door for the Tigers to leap into sixth.
Championship play-off schedule
The Championship play-off semi-finals begin on Friday 8 May, with Hull City hosting Millwall in the first leg. Middlesbrough then face Southampton at the Riverside on Saturday 9 May, before the return legs take place the following week.
- Hull City vs Millwall – Friday 8 May, 8pm
- Middlesbrough vs Southampton – Saturday 9 May, 12:30pm
- Millwall vs Hull City – Monday 11 May, 8pm
- Southampton vs Middlesbrough – Tuesday 12 May, 8pm
- Championship play-off final – Saturday 23 May, Wembley Stadium, kick-off TBC
Who are the favourites to win the Championship play-offs?
Southampton are the favourites to win the Championship play-offs at 9/4, ahead of Middlesbrough at 5/2 and Millwall at 11/4. Hull are the outsiders at 6/1 after securing sixth place on the final day, setting up a two-legged semi-final against Millwall.
When is the Championship play-off final?
The 2026 Championship play-off final will be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23 May, with the winner joining Coventry City and Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
For Southampton, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Hull, the play-offs now represent one final route into the top flight — and with the promotion market so tight between the top three, this year’s race to Wembley looks wide open.
