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For clubs in the lower leagues of England, earning a spot in the Premier League is like reaching the promised land.
Each year, three teams are brought up from the second tier of English football, known as the EFL Championship, to replace the three relegated sides that get sent down from the top flight.
Promotion to the Premier League not only comes with a massive boost in club prestige, but also brings along with it a massive financial windfall, as the three new participants are able to reap the benefits of the Premier League's financial might.
The Sporting News brings you a look at who is in line to earn promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2025/26 season, set to be brought into the top level of football competition for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.
MORE: A look at the Premier League teams to be relegated from the EPL in 2026
Premier League teams promoted 2026
On April 17, it was confirmed that Coventry City had been promoted back to the English top flight as they drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers to put them 10 points clear at the top of the Championship table.
The race for the second place in the standings was still extremely tight with just a few matches remaining in the season.
Millwall sat in second on 76 points, but Ipswich Town just a point back in third have two games in hand, meaning they hold the keys to the final automatic promotion slot.
Table updated as of all matches on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
| Pos. | Club | GP | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | Coventry City* | 44 | 89 | 26-11-7 | +46 |
| 2. | Ipswich Town | 43 | 79 | 22-13-8 | +30 |
| 3. | Millwall | 44 | 79 | 23-10-11 | +13 |
| 4. | Southampton | 44 | 76 | 21-13-10 | +24 |
| 5. | Middlesbrough | 44 | 76 | 21-13-10 | +21 |
* Mathematically confirmed promotion to the Premier League
Who will make the Championship playoff?
After the top-two spots earn automatic promotion, clubs who finish third through sixth will reach the four-team promotion playoff, competing to earn the final spot.
Millwall was the first team to confirm a place in the playoff after they won at Stoke on April 21, followed shortly by Ipswich Town, although it seems likely that one of those two teams will wind up with the second automatic promotion place by the end of the season.
Below those two, Southampton and Middlesbrough can both hypothetically fall as far as at least seventh, meaning they must wait to mathematically lock down a spot. Wrexham and Hull City are in the same boat, with a minimum finish as far down as ninth as of now.
Derby County and Norwich City are the only other clubs with a mathematical chance to finish at least sixth, although they are quite far back and need a miracle to reach the playoff.
Race for Championship promotion playoff
Updated as of all matches on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
| Pos. | Club | GP | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 2. | Ipswich Town* | 43 | 79 | 22-13-8 | +30 |
| 3. | Millwall* | 44 | 79 | 23-10-11 | +13 |
| 4. | Southampton | 44 | 76 | 21-13-10 | +24 |
| 5. | Middlesbrough | 44 | 76 | 21-13-10 | +21 |
| 6. | Wrexham | 44 | 70 | 19-13-12 | +6 |
| 7. | Hull City | 44 | 70 | 20-10-14 | +4 |
| 8. | Derby County | 44 | 66 | 19-9-16 | +8 |
| 9. | Norwich City | 44 | 64 | 19-7-18 | +8 |
* Mathematically confirmed a place in at least the Championship playoff, as per Has It Happened
When is the Championship playoff?
With the final day of Championship regular season action set for May 2, the promotion playoffs will take place across the middle of the month.
The first legs of the semifinals will be held on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, while the return legs will be held the following Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12.
Then, the final will be held on May 23 at Wembley Stadium.
2026 Championship playoff schedule
Semifinal first leg
- Friday, May 8: 6th place vs. 3rd place
- Saturday, May 9: 5th place vs. 4th place
Semifinal second leg
- Monday, May 11: 3rd place vs. 6th place
- Tuesday, May 12: 4th place vs. 5th place
Final
- Saturday, May 23: 3rd/6th place vs. 4th/5th place
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