Every Premier League season brings new faces to the competition, and the 2026/27 campaign is no different. Three clubs have earned promotion from the EFL Championship and will now compete against England's strongest sides in the top flight. For each club, the move to the Premier League represents a different stage in its history.  However, their promotion also means that Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and West Ham United have dropped into the Championship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won automatic promotion?

Coventry City won the Championship, while Ipswich Town finished second. Both received automatic promotion.

Who won the final promotion place?

Hull City won the Championship play-off final and became the third promoted club.

How long had Coventry City been away from the Premier League?

Coventry had been away from the Premier League for 25 years before returning for the 2026/27 campaign.

How long had Hull City been away?

Hull City returned after a nine-year absence from the Premier League.

How long were Ipswich Town outside the Premier League?

Ipswich Town spent only one season outside the Premier League before securing promotion back to the top flight.

The Premier League Newly Promoted Teams

1. Coventry City

Coventry City are returning to the Premier League after a 25-year absence. The Sky Blues enjoyed one of the strongest campaigns in the 2025/26 Championship, finishing as champions and earning automatic promotion. Their success brought them back to the top level of English football after more than two decades away. Frank Lampard was in charge as Coventry secured their return to the Premier League. The club's first match back in the top flight came against reigning champions Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 21 August 2026. Coventry face a demanding challenge because their first season back immediately places them among the strongest clubs in English football. Their opening fixtures also include Manchester City, making the start particularly difficult.

2. Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town's return has a very different story. The Tractor Boys were promoted automatically after finishing second in the Championship. Their promotion means they returned to the Premier League after only one season away. Ipswich began their return with a home fixture against Sunderland and won 2-1. Jack Clarke scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, giving the club an ideal start to life back in the top flight. Their challenge now is to avoid another relegation and establish themselves in the Premier League. The club also faces an important early run of fixtures, including matches against Manchester United and Liverpool.

3. Hull City

Hull City completed the trio of promoted clubs by winning the Championship play-offs. The Tigers finished sixth in the Championship but made the most of their opportunity in the play-offs. After overcoming Millwall in the semi-finals, Hull defeated Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley to secure promotion. The victory ended Hull's nine-year absence from the Premier League. Their return immediately produced a memorable result. Hull defeated Manchester United 2-0 in their opening Premier League match, with goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy. That result made Hull one of the early talking points of the new Premier League campaign.

How the Three Clubs Were Promoted

The three clubs reached the Premier League through two different routes.

1. Coventry City: Championship winners and automatic promotion.

2. Ipswich Town: Championship runners-up and automatic promotion.

3. Hull City: Play-off winners and the third promoted club.

The Championship's top two places provide automatic promotion, while teams finishing below them compete for the final promotion position through the play-offs.

What Happened to the Relegated Teams?

The promotion of Coventry, Ipswich and Hull came at the expense of three clubs from the previous Premier League season. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and West Ham United were relegated at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. They were replaced by the three Championship clubs. This means the 2026/27 Premier League has a noticeably different look, with three clubs returning to the top flight and three established Premier League sides dropping into the Championship.

Can the Three Promoted Clubs Stay in the Premier League?

Survival will be the immediate objective for all three. Recent Premier League history shows that promotion does not guarantee long-term survival. Coventry, Ipswich and Hull must now compete against clubs with greater Premier League experience, larger squads and, in many cases, significantly greater financial resources. Their opening matches have already shown that the promoted clubs should not be dismissed. Hull defeated Manchester United, while Ipswich beat Sunderland on the opening weekend. Coventry, meanwhile, faced defending champions Arsenal away from home. The remainder of the season will determine whether any of the three can turn promotion into a lasting Premier League stay.

Wind Up 

Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City are the three new additions to the Premier League for the 2026/27 season, but their journeys to the top flight have been very different. Coventry earned the Championship title, Ipswich secured automatic promotion by finishing second, and Hull fought through the play-offs to claim the final place. Their return has already added interesting storylines to the new campaign. Ipswich began with a victory over Sunderland, while Hull produced a major surprise by defeating Manchester United. Coventry faced one of the toughest possible opening fixtures against defending champions Arsenal. The real test, however, will come over the course of the full season. Promotion is only the beginning. The three clubs must now prove that they can compete consistently at Premier League level and avoid returning to the Championship after just one season.