The Betfred Championship fixtures are finally here, and if last season is anything to go by, then we can certainly expect the upcoming season to provide heaps of entertainment!
The second tier has been revamped for 2026, following confirmation of a merger between the Championship and League One competitions at the end of last season.
Next year, the Championship competition will include 20 teams from across the UK and the league will be 24 rounds long, with the winner determined via a Play-Off system.
Who’s excited for a new era? Here are five must-see rounds in 2026…
Round 1 (Opening round)
The first round of the Betfred Championship will be spread across the weekend of 16/18 January and includes a blockbuster clash between London and Widnes at the Cherry Records Stadium.
Both sides are set to pick up where they left off, having faced each other in the final round of last season.
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 1 will also see several clubs take on a team that’s close to home, with Batley at home to Featherstone, Hunslet also kicking their season off with a West Yorkshire derby against Dewsbury, and Swinton hosting Rochdale at Heywood Road.
Neighbours Salford and Oldham also kick things off on the Friday Night.
Who is ready for nine super spectacles?
Round 1 fixtures:
Salford RLFC v Oldham RLFC – Friday 16 January (K.O. 8pm)
Midlands Hurricanes v Newcastle Thunder – Sunday 18 January (K.O. 2pm)
Barrow Raiders v Workington Town – Sunday 18 January (K.O. 2pm)
Doncaster RLFC v Halifax Panthers – Sunday 18 January (K.O. 3pm)
Hunslet RLFC v Dewsbury Rams – Sunday 18 January (K.O. 3pm)
Keighley Cougars v Goole Vikings – Sunday 18 January (K.O. 3pm)
London Broncos v Widnes Vikings – Sunday 18 January (K.O. 3pm)
Whitehaven RLFC v Sheffield Eagles – Sunday 18 January (K.O. 3pm)
Swinton Lions v Rochdale Hornets – Sunday 18 January (K.O. 3pm)
Round 9 (Easter Extravaganza)
Round 9 is set to be epic as the Championship’s very own Rivals Round gets underway over the traditional Easter Weekend (3-5 April).
The Cumbrian Derby between Workington and Whitehaven will kick things off in a fiery affair, before local rivals Oldham reunite with Rochdale, and Barrow entertain Widnes on home soil.
Goole and Newcastle’s clash will see out the Good Friday action.
There’s more to look forward to on Easter Sunday as the return of the Heavy Woollen Derby is warmly welcomed.
Batley versus Dewsbury has become a historic fan favourite over the years and there will certainly be no love lost when the old foes lock horns next April.
And the local rivalry does not stop there with the South Yorkshire Derby between Sheffield and Doncaster taking place once again at Easter, whilst former League One sides Keighley and Hunslet and last year's League One champions North Wales and Midlands, battle it out in style.
Swinton against Salford sees out what is sure to be a memorable weekend.
Round 9 line-up:
Whitehaven RLFC v Workington Town – Good Friday 3 April (K.O. 1pm)
Barrow v Widnes Vikings – Good Friday 3 April (K.O. 3pm)
Oldham RLFC v Rochdale Hornets – Good Friday 3 April (K.O. 3pm)
Goole Vikings v Newcastle Thunder – Good Friday 3 April (K.O. 5pm)
Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams – Sunday 5 April (K.O. 3pm)
Keighley Cougars v Hunslet – Sunday 5 April (K.O. 3pm)
North Wales Crusaders v Midlands Hurricanes – Sunday 5 April (K.O. 3pm)
Sheffield Eagles v Doncaster RLFC – Sunday 5 April (K.O. 3pm)
Swinton Lions v Salford RLFC – Sunday 5 April (K.O. 3pm)
Round 10 (Halifax v Oldham – last year’s 5th v 4th)
With last year’s top three promoted to the Betfred Super League (York Knights, Toulouse Olympique and Bradford Bulls), we eagerly look forward to the fixture between the remaining two teams who made up that formidable top five in 2025.
In Round 10 (Sunday 12 April, K.O. 3pm), the Panthers meet with the Roughyeds – and for the first time since their Elimination Play-Off match, in which Oldham will be undoubtedly seeking revenge.
Back in September, Kyle Eastmond’s Panthers travelled to Boundary Park as the underdogs, before pulling off a stunning victory against a strongly named Oldham side.
But the hosts never managed to get a look in, as the visitors ran in seven tries to avenge two regular season defeats to the Roughyeds (20-23 and 34-10), and most importantly, book themselves a semi-final berth.
How will they both fare in 2026? Will they be two of the teams to beat?
Their reverse fixture will be played on Friday 10 July (K.O. 7:45pm).
Round 25 (Penultimate round)
The penultimate round has it all. Will teams still be making last-ditch attempts at the Play-Offs, or will everything already be confirmed by this stage?
There’s more bragging rights on the line with a number of local derbies in Round 25, as well as matches that could also have plenty of Play-Off permutations, such as London versus Halifax...
Round 25 fixtures:
Oldham RLFC v Salford RLFC – Friday 21 August (K.O. 7:45pm)
Newcastle Thunder v Midlands Hurricanes – Saturday 22 August (K.O. 4pm)
Goole Vikings v Doncaster RLFC – Saturday 22 August (K.O. 3pm)
Barrow Raiders v Whitehaven RLFC – Sunday 23rd February (K.O. 3pm)
Dewsbury Rams v Batley Bulldogs – Sunday 23rd February (K.O. 3pm)
Doncaster RLFC v Sheffield Eagles – Sunday 23rd February (K.O. 3pm)
Hunslet RLFC v Rochdale Hornets – Sunday 23rd February (K.O. 3pm)
London Broncos v Halifax Panthers – Sunday 23rd February (K.O. 3pm)
North Wales Crusaders v Keighley Cougars – Sunday 23rd February (K.O. 3pm)
Widnes Vikings v Workington Town – Sunday 23rd February (K.O. 3pm)
Round 26 (Play-Off Potential)
The Play-Off race went to the final rounds last season – can we expect a similar story in 2026?
With more teams than ever, anyone has a chance. Some tasty ties await on the final day, but which fixtures will matter more?
Round 26 fixtures:
Goole Vikings v Doncaster RLFC – Saturday 29 August (K.O. 3pm)
Midlands Hurricanes v North Wales Crusaders – Sunday 30 August (K.O. 2pm)
Batley Bulldogs v Salford RLFC – Sunday 30 August (K.O. 3pm)
Dewsbury Rams v Newcastle Thunder – Sunday 30 August (K.O. 3pm)
Halifax Panthers v Keighley Cougars – Sunday 30 August (K.O. 3pm)
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham RLFC – Sunday 30 August (K.O. 3pm)
Sheffield Eagles v Widnes Vikings – Sunday 30 August (K.O. 3pm)
Workington Town v Whitehaven RLFC – Sunday 30 August (K.O. 3pm)
The full 2026 Betfred Championship fixture list can be found in the Rugby League Match Centre.
More information on the 2026 Betfred Championship's format can be found here.
Photo Credit: London Broncos, Ben Challis and Halifax Panthers
