The fa cup final 2026 date has been set for Saturday, May 16, with the final scheduled for a 3pm kick-off at Wembley Stadium. The FA confirmed the fa cup final 2026 date as part of details released ahead of this weekend’s semi-finals. The match will be shown live in the UK across TNT Sports, HBO Max and One.
Wembley confirmed for the showpiece final
The final of the 2026 FA Cup will take place at Wembley Stadium, keeping the competition’s showpiece at the national stadium. The kickoff time has been confirmed as 3pm BST, giving supporters, broadcasters and the two eventual finalists a fixed time to work toward.
The announcement comes before the last-four ties decide who reaches the final. Manchester City face Southampton on Saturday, April 25, and Chelsea meet Leeds United on Sunday, April 26. The winners of those matches will meet in the final on Saturday, May 16.
Broadcast details and radio coverage set
Broadcast plans for the final are now in place in the UK. The match will be available live on TNT Sports, HBO Max, One and iPlayer, while Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT will provide radio coverage.
International broadcast details have not yet been finalised. The FA said those arrangements will be confirmed closer to the day, leaving only the overseas distribution still to come.
fa cup final 2026 date comes before decisive semi-finals
The timing of the announcement matters because both semi-finals are being played this weekend at Wembley Stadium connected by EE. Chelsea and Leeds are contesting one tie, while Manchester City and Southampton meet in the other, with only two places in the final available.
There is added interest around the route to the final because Leeds have reached the competition’s last four for the first time since 1987. Crystal Palace are the current champions after beating Manchester City in last year’s final, giving the upcoming match a direct link to the competition’s recent history.
What happens next
With the fa cup final 2026 date now confirmed, attention shifts to the semi-finals and the identity of the two clubs that will walk out at Wembley on May 16. Further details about the 2026 Emirates FA Cup final are expected to be published in advance, while international broadcasters remain to be confirmed. For now, the schedule is clear: the fa cup final 2026 date is Saturday, May 16, and the final will begin at 3pm at Wembley Stadium.
