The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League starts with the first qualifying round matches on July 8-9, 2025. The league phase (group stage) kicks off later with the first matchday scheduled for September 16-18, 2025. The competition will run until the final on May 30, 2026, held at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary. The draw for the league phase takes place on August 28, 2025, in Monaco. Here is a brief timeline for the start:

• First qualifying round: July 8-9, 2025
• League phase (Matchday 1): September 16-18, 2025
• League phase draw: August 28, 2025
  Final: May 30, 2026

This season introduces a new format and includes a total of eight matchdays in the league phase before the knockout rounds begin.