FA Announce 2025-26 FA Cup Calendar

English FA have announced the dates for each round of 2025-26 FA Cup.

The Qualifying Phase will commence on weekend of 2-3 August with an extra preliminary round followed by a preliminary round on weekend of 16-17 August, with Qualifying Rounds One to Four following on a fortnightly basis until the weekend of 11-12 October.

Those who survive that phase will enter the First Round Proper alongside League One and League Two clubs on the weekend of 1-2 November, although it is likely that some games will be moved for TV coverage on 31 October and 3 November.

The second round follows from 5-8 December before Premier League and Championship opposition enter at the Third Round stage across 9 – 12 January, including current holders, Crystal Palace who will seek to defend their maiden crown.

Fourth Round action will take place from 13-16 February, followed by the Fifth Round between 6-9 March to determine the final eight teams left for the Quarter-Finals which are scheduled for 4-5 April.

The semi-finals will take place at Wembley on 25 and 26 April respectively, before the two finalists return to Wembley for the Final on Saturday 16 May, with kick-off time set to be announced after the finalists are determined.

TNT Sports will take over the UK TV contract from this season on a four-year contract until the end of 2028-29 season, with BBC retaining free-to-air rights which were sublet by TNT to meet broadcasting requirements.