Fixtures for the 2026 Betfred Championship season can be confirmed today ahead of the season’s start in January.
The opening round of the Betfred Championship will be spread across the weekend of 16/18 January – including a blockbuster clash between London Broncos and Widnes Vikings at the Cherry Records Stadium (KO 3pm).
The Broncos are set to be the heavy favourites to dominate the Championship next year following a takeover by a consortium including NRL icon Darren Lockyer but will face a determined Vikings side looking to improve on their 2025 form.
Round One will also see several clubs take on a team that’s close to home with Hunslet kicking their season off with a West Yorkshire derby against Dewsbury Rams (KO 3pm) and Swinton Lions hosting Rochdale Hornets (KO 3pm) at Heywood Road.
Following Round One, all Championship clubs will compete in Round Two of the Betfred Challenge Cup on January 24/25 before the league resumes on January 31.
Dean Muir will then begin his tenure as North Wales Crusaders head coach with a trip across the M56 to face Widnes on Feb 1 (KO 3pm) with Halifax Panthers having home advantage when they face Batley Bulldogs (KO 3pm).
The West Cumbrian derby will return on Good Friday when Whitehaven face Workington Town over Easter weekend (April 3/5), where the Betfred Championship programme includes Featherstone Rovers hosting Halifax, the South Yorkshire derby between Sheffield Eagles and Doncaster Rovers, and Goole Vikings versus Newcastle Thunder.
Following confirmation of a merger of the Championship and League 1 competitions at the end of last season, 2026 will include 21 teams from across the UK. The league will be 24 rounds long, with each club playing 12 home games and 12 away games.
Ten of those fixtures will be determined by league positions from the 2025 season, while two opponents will be based on geographical location to ensure all clubs get to play against their local rivals.
A new four week 10-team play-off format will be used at the end of the year to determine the teams for the Grand Final, which will be on Sunday 4th October. All clubs will also compete in the 1895 Cup, with the final to take place at a new venue for 2026.
Abi Ekoku, interim CEO of the RFL said:
“A new-look Betfred Championship in 2026 is set to deliver an enthralling week in week out competition. The exciting new structure ensures every single game will have meaning and, it is pleasing to see the return of many old rivalries, plus some intriguing stardust from new club ownership groups. I would like to thank all Championship clubs for their cooperation and support and wish all teams success in their 2026 campaigns.”
Betfred Championship Round One Fixtures
January 16: Salford Red Devils v Oldham RLFC (KO 8pm)
January 18: Midlands Hurricanes v Newcastle Thunder (KO 2pm), Barrow Raiders v Workington Town (KO 3pm), Batley Bulldogs v Featherstone Rovers (KO 3pm), Doncaster RLFC v Halifax Panthers (KO 3pm), Hunslet RLFC v Dewsbury Rams (KO 3pm), Keighley Cougars v Goole Vikings (KO 3pm), London Broncos v Widnes Vikings (KO 3pm), Whitehaven v Sheffield Eagles (3pm), Swinton Lions v Rochdale Hornets (3pm).
North Wales Crusaders – bye round.
Other key dates
January 24-25 – Betfred Challenge Cup Second Round (Championship clubs enter)
February 6-8 – Betfred Challenge Cup Third Round (Super League clubs enter)
March 14-15 – Betfred Challenge Cup Fourth Round (no Championship or League One fixtures)
August 30 – Round 26 - last round of regular season
September 5/6 – 10-team Play Off Series starts
Sunday October 4 – Betfred Championship Grand Final
