Serie B 2026/27 calendar unveiled: Cesena vs Sampdoria on opening day

The Serie B 2026/2027 calendar has been unveiled at the Teatro dei Filarmonici in Ascoli, with the 95th edition of Italy's second tier kicking off on August 22 and Cesena against Sampdoria headlining the opening round.

According to [La Gazzetta dello Sport](https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-B/22-07-2026/serie-b-calendario-2026-2027-campionato-live-diretta.shtml), 20 clubs will compete in the new season. Cremonese, Verona and Pisa arrive from Serie A, while Vicenza, Arezzo, Benevento and Ascoli earned promotion from Serie C.

Lega B president Paolo Bedin said: "I hope we can surpass the extraordinary numbers of last season. We're happy to welcome back Ascoli together with Vicenza, Arezzo and Benevento. Verona, Pisa and Cremonese also return. This is the Serie B of great provincial centres, clubs with tradition, history and a large fan base."

The promotion and relegation rules remain unchanged: the top two earn direct promotion to Serie A, while teams placed 3rd through 8th enter the playoffs. The bottom three are relegated to Serie C, while 19th and 18th contest a relegation playoff.

The first matchday on August 22 features: Avellino vs Arezzo, Benevento vs Modena, Carrarese vs Mantova, Cesena vs Sampdoria, Empoli vs Cremonese, Verona vs Ascoli, Vicenza vs Catanzaro, Palermo vs Juve Stabia, Pisa vs Padova, Südtirol vs Virtus Entella.

The season uses an asymmetric calendar with four midweek rounds (October 27, November 24, December 8 2026 and March 2 2027), a Christmas round on December 27, and a winter break from December 28 to January 8. The final matchday is scheduled for May 14-16, 2027.

Sources

• La Gazzetta dello Sport