UEFA Adjusts Champions League Final Kick-Off To Elevate Matchday Experience

‎UEFA announced on Thursday that this season’s Champions League final in Budapest will begin at 5:00 pm local time, instead of the usual 8:00 pm, to “enhance the matchday experience.”

‎The 2026 final is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, and will be held at the Puskás Arena.

‎”An earlier kick-off makes day trips more feasible, reduces travel stress, and allows fans to enjoy the occasion without worrying about late-night logistics,” said Ronan Evain, executive director for Football Supporters Europe, which worked on the subject with UEFA.

‎Unlike the Europa League and Conference League finals, which are played in midweek, the Champions League showpiece has been held on Saturdays since 2010.

‎”While a 20:00 WAT kick-off is well suited for midweek matches, an earlier kick-off on a Saturday for the final means an earlier finish regardless of extra time or penalties,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

‎Paris Saint-Germain won their first European Cup title in last season’s final, defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich.