BRIGHTON — Brighton & Hove Albion will compete in the UEFA Conference League for the 2026–27 season after securing an 8th-place finish in the Premier League. The Seagulls concluded their domestic campaign on May 24, 2026, and despite a final-day defeat to Manchester United, their points tally was sufficient to seal a spot in Europe’s third-tier competition.

A Historic European Campaign

This marks the second time in three seasons that Brighton has qualified for European competition, following their successful UEFA Europa League journey during the 2023–24 campaign. While the squad expressed some disappointment at missing out on a higher-tier finish, the achievement represents another significant milestone for the club.

"After the Palace game at home, if you'd said we'd finish eighth and get in the Conference League, then we would have snapped your hand off," said Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood. "We’ve got a massive opportunity to really go and do well... I think it's a tournament we can go deep into."

2026–27 Conference League Schedule

Brighton’s journey to the league phase begins in late August. Key dates for their European campaign include:

    •    August 3: Draw for the play-off round.

    •    August 20 & 27: Two-legged play-off round to determine qualification for the league phase.

    •    August 28: Draw for the league phase.

    •    October – December: League phase matches (six matches total: three home, three away).

    •    February 2027: Knockout phase play-offs begin.

    •    June 2, 2027: The Conference League Final.

Competition Format

The 2026/27 tournament will feature 36 teams in a single league phase. Each participating club is drawn to play six matches, ensuring a highly competitive structure as clubs vie for spots in the knockout stages. Brighton will join other notable European sides in the draw, with clubs like Atalanta, Freiburg, Monaco, and Getafe also expected to feature prominently in the competition.