Scottish Champions Celtic released a statement just under an hour before the SPFL released the fixture lists for season 2026/27 complaining about the scheduling of the club’s opening fixture being moved to a Monday evening…
Then at midday the SPFL released the fixture list that confirmed that Celtic would play Dundee at Celtic Park on Monday 3 August as a result of other events taking place in Hampden that weekend, including a Calvin Harris concert at Hampden and a Commonwealth Games event at the nearby Glasgow International Arena (AKA The Emirates).
While acknowledging that the scheduling decision is outwith the club’s control, Celtic wanted to express the club’s disappointment at supporters having to travel on a Monday evening. This of course will be particularly problematic for travelling fans from Ireland who have ferries to catch and work to go to on the Tuesday morning.
Here’s the statement that Celtic released:
Celtic Football Club has been informed that its first match will be played on Monday, August 3, 2026 in the forthcoming league season.
With the fixtures being officially released today, it is important that supporters are aware of this as early as possible and the background to this decision, which is outwith our control.
Clearly, our priority will always be our supporters and, against any measure, staging the Champions Flag Day on a Monday evening is disappointing.
We have made repeated representations to Police Scotland and to the SPFL to avoid this scheduling, however, surprisingly, we have been told that there is no choice owing to Police Scotland being unable to support the fixture on a weekend which coincides with other events.
Through positive dialogue with the SPFL and Sky Sports, however, it has been agreed that in recognition of the demands placed on our travelling supporters, particularly from Ireland, the kick off will be brought forward to the earlier time of 7.30pm from the previously designated 8pm start, something which is significant for travel connections.
While it will never detract from the team’s phenomenal and most deserving achievement, we feel strongly that a weekend timing should have been facilitated in the interests of both teams, both sets of supporters and the status of the fixture.
Regardless of these disappointing circumstances we will still ensure that this a very special day for our supporters as we celebrate our fifth consecutive Premiership title.
This will be Celtic first evening flag day over the past decade and a half, and it’s also the 14th in those 15 years, as Celtic’s domination of the top domestic trophy continues. No other club – dead or alive – can come close to this incredible achievement which is also the best in Celtic’s unbroken history.
The SPFL’s Chief Operating Officer Calum Beattie, did his best to explain all the various factors that had to be considered whilst working on this fixture list for the new season. You can read everything he had to say HERE.
Asked if there had been any impact caused by the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow this summer, Beattie said:
“The event is not on the same scale as 2014 when both Barclays Hampden Park and Celtic Park were venues, so the impact on SPFL fixtures is more limited this time.
“However, the closing weekend of the 2026 Commonwealth Games coincides with our opening weekend and there are events scheduled at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. As a result, and following discussions with relevant stakeholders including Police Scotland, Celtic’s opening game against Dundee will be played on Monday 3 August, live on Sky Sports at 7.30pm.”
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