2026 League of Ireland Premier Division

Last updated

League of Ireland Premier Division
Season2026
Dates6 February 2026 – 30 October 2026
2025

The 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division, known as the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division for sponsorship reasons, [1] is the upcoming 42nd season of the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top Irish league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1985.

Contents

The competition will begin on 6 February 2026 and is set to conclude on 30 October 2026. [2]

Teams

The league will consist of ten teams – the top nine teams from the previous season and one team promoted as champions from the First Division, Dundalk. [3]

Stadiums and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Bohemians Dublin (Phibsborough) Dalymount Park 4,500
Derry City Derry Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium 3,700
Drogheda United Drogheda Sullivan and Lambe Park 3,500
Dundalk Dundalk Oriel Park 4,500
Galway United Galway Eamonn Deacy Park 5,000
Shamrock Rovers Dublin (Tallaght) Tallaght Stadium 10,500
Shelbourne Dublin (Drumcondra) Tolka Park 5,700
Sligo Rovers Sligo The Showgrounds 3,873
St Patrick's Athletic Dublin (Inchicore) Richmond Park 5,340
Waterford Waterford RSC 5,160

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Bohemians Flag of Ireland.svg Alan Reynolds Flag of Ireland.svg Keith Buckley O'Neills Des Kelly Interiors
Derry City Ulster Banner.svg Tiernan Lynch TBC O'Neills Diamond Corrugated
Drogheda United Flag of Ireland.svg Kevin Doherty Flag of Ireland.svg Ryan Brennan Macron NoFo Brew Co
Dundalk Flag of Ireland.svg Ciarán Kilduff Flag of Ireland.svg Daryl Horgan Macron ZOMA
Galway United Flag of Ireland.svg John Caulfield Flag of Ireland.svg Greg Cunningham O'Neills Comer Property Management
Shamrock Rovers Flag of Ireland.svg Stephen Bradley Flag of Cape Verde.svg Roberto Lopes Macron MASCOT Workwear
Shelbourne Flag of Ireland.svg Joey O'Brien Flag of Ireland.svg Mark Coyle O'Neills Chadwicks
Sligo Rovers Flag of Ireland.svg John Russell Flag of Ireland.svg William Fitzgerald Umbro Avant Money
St Patrick's Athletic Flag of Ireland.svg Stephen Kenny Flag of Ireland.svg Joe Redmond Umbro TBC
Waterford Flag of England.svg Jon Daly Flag of Ireland.svg Pádraig Amond Puma TBC

League table

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1 Bohemians 00000000Qualification for Champions League first qualifying round
2 Derry City 00000000Qualification for Conference League second qualifying round
3 Drogheda United 00000000Qualification for Conference League first qualifying round
4 Dundalk 00000000
5 Galway United 00000000
6 Shamrock Rovers 00000000
7 Shelbourne 00000000
8 Sligo Rovers 00000000
9 St Patrick's Athletic 00000000Qualification for promotion/relegation play-off
10 Waterford 00000000Relegation to League of Ireland First Division
First match(es) will be played: 6 February 2026. Source: SSE Airtricity League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.

Results

Teams play each other four times (twice at home and twice away).

Home \ Away BOH DER DRO DUN GAL SHM SHE SLI STP WAT
Bohemians
Derry City
Drogheda United
Dundalk
Galway United
Shamrock Rovers
Shelbourne
Sligo Rovers
St Patrick's Athletic
Waterford
Source: , Extratime.ie
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Shamrock Rovers
Derry City
Shelbourne
Bohemians
St Patrick's Athletic
Drogheda United
Sligo Rovers
Galway United
Waterford
Dundalk
Leader and qualification for Champions League first qualifying round
Qualification for Conference League second qualifying round
Qualification for Conference League first qualifying round
Qualification for promotion/relegation play-off
Relegation to League of Ireland First Division
First match(es) will be played on 6 February 2026. Source: leagueofireland.ie, Extratime.ie

References

  1. "Key dates - schedule confirmed for 2026 LOI season". League of Ireland. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  2. Duffy, Muireann (1 December 2025). "Premier Division gets early February kick-off as League of Ireland season dates confirmed". The Irish Times . Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  3. Rogers, James (11 October 2025). "Dundalk FC complete hard fought resurrection with promotion to Premier Division". Irish Independent . Retrieved 6 December 2025.