Premier League Granted 3pm Blackout Exemption Ahead 2025/26 Festive Games

The Premier League has experienced significant changes regarding its festive period fixtures and broadcasting rules for the 2025/26 season. Traditionally a cherished Boxing Day tradition in the UK, only one Premier League match will be held on December 26 this year, with the rest scheduled for the following weekend and Monday to meet broadcaster contracts, marking a shift away from the usual dense Boxing Day schedule. Additionally, the league has been granted an exemption from the longstanding 3pm Saturday TV blackout, allowing matches on December 27 and January 3 to be broadcast live, though the Premier League has chosen not to utilize this exemption, reaffirming its support for the blackout which protects lower-league attendances. The 3pm blackout, in place since the mid-1980s, aims to encourage attendance at lower-tier games and mitigate illegal streaming. These developments reflect the league's balancing act between broadcast obligations and traditional football culture in the UK during the festive season.