Saints news desk
Sourced from Daily Echo Saints for Saints supporters.
Southampton have had two more fixtures from their 2026/27 season selected for live television coverage, as Sky Sports confirmed its latest round of EFL broadcast picks. The changes affect both Saints’ opening cup tie and an early-season league trip to Lincoln City.
The Championship opener away to Watford had already been moved to Sunday, August 16, with a 1.30pm kick-off. Now two further fixtures have been rescheduled for broadcast purposes, giving supporters an early look at how the opening weeks of the campaign will be structured around television commitments.
Saints to open season live on Sky Sports at Colchester
Tonda Eckert’s side will begin their 2026/27 campaign in the Carabao Cup first round away to Colchester United on Saturday, August 8, with a 5.30pm kick-off. The tie will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football, meaning Saints’ first competitive match of the season will be available to a national television audience.
Starting the season with a live fixture puts an early spotlight on the squad Eckert has assembled heading into the new campaign. Cup ties are often used to rotate options and assess fringe players, and a live broadcast slot adds extra scrutiny to those selection decisions from the very first match of the year.
Lincoln City clash gets earlier kick-off for Sky Sports+
Saints’ first league visit to Lincoln City since 1961 has also been selected for coverage, this time on Sky Sports+. The Championship fixture at the LNER Stadium remains on Saturday, September 5, but the kick-off time has moved earlier, from the original slot to 12.30pm.
The historical significance of the fixture, Southampton’s first league trip to Lincoln in over six decades, will likely have contributed to its selection for broadcast. For fans planning to travel, the earlier kick-off time will need to be factored into journey planning, particularly given the distance involved for supporters heading north on a matchday.
What the revised August and September schedule looks like
With these latest changes, the shape of Southampton’s opening two months of the season is largely settled, aside from any further amendments. The confirmed schedule reads as follows:
- Saturday, August 8 – Colchester United (A) – 5.30pm (Carabao Cup)
- Sunday, August 16 – Watford (A) – 1.30pm
- Saturday, August 22 – Stoke City (H) – 3pm
- Saturday, August 29 – Millwall (H) – 3pm
- Tuesday, September 1 – Birmingham City (A) – 7.45pm
- Saturday, September 5 – Lincoln City (A) – 12.30pm
- Tuesday, September 8 – Swansea City (H) – 7.45pm
- Saturday, September 12 – Bristol City (H) – 3pm
- Saturday, September 19 – Wrexham (A) – 3pm
All other fixtures across August and September remain unchanged from their originally scheduled dates and times. That gives supporters a clear picture of the opening two months, with a mix of home and away fixtures against sides including Stoke City, Millwall, Birmingham City, Swansea City, Bristol City and Wrexham.
What this means for Southampton supporters
For Southampton fans, the confirmation of two more televised fixtures means further adjustments to travel and viewing plans, particularly for those attending the Colchester cup tie or making the trip to Lincoln. Early-season live fixtures also tend to generate additional attention on the club, both from opposition analysts and the wider football media, as broadcasters build coverage around the opening weeks of the season.
The Carabao Cup opener at Colchester will be an early test of squad depth under Eckert, while the Lincoln fixture carries added historical weight given the near 65-year gap since Southampton’s last league visit there. Neither change affects the overall structure of the fixture list, but both alter matchday logistics for supporters planning to attend.
What happens next
Selections for Southampton’s fixtures between October and December are due to be confirmed by July 31, meaning further kick-off changes are likely before the busier winter schedule takes shape. Supporters should keep an eye out for that announcement, alongside final confirmation of ticketing arrangements for the newly timed Colchester and Lincoln City fixtures.