Celtic Condemn Monday Night Kick-Off for Premiership Opener

Celtic have condemned the scheduling of their Scottish Premiership title defence opener after being told they must begin the new campaign on a Monday night to make way for the Commonwealth Games and back-to-back Calvin Harris concerts.

The champions will kick off against Dundee at Celtic Park on 3 August at 19:30 BST, a slot the club say they fought hard to avoid. They revealed they had made “repeated representations” to the SPFL and Police Scotland in an effort to secure a traditional weekend start, only to be informed there was “no choice” but to move the game.

The problem lies on Celtic’s doorstep. Glasgow 2026 cycling events are booked into the Sir Chris Hoy Arena, right next to Celtic Park, across the weekend of 1 and 2 August. At the same time, Calvin Harris will draw huge crowds to Hampden for two major concerts on those same dates.

That combination, authorities have decided, leaves no room for a high-profile league fixture in the east end of the city.

Celtic are far from convinced.

“We feel strongly a weekend timing should have been facilitated in the interests of both teams, both sets of supporters and the status of the fixture,” the club said, underlining their belief that the champions’ curtain-raiser deserves more than a displaced Monday night slot.

The club also stressed the impact on their sizeable Irish support. With that in mind, they have at least managed to drag the kick-off forward, negotiating an earlier start time to ease travel for fans crossing the water.

While Celtic bristle at the decision, the rest of the opening round has fallen into a more familiar pattern – and into prime television territory. All six first-weekend fixtures will be broadcast live, with the 2026-27 season opening on Friday, 31 July, when Dundee United host Rangers at 20:00.

Hearts, last season’s runners-up, head to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen on the Saturday at 17:30, following Falkirk’s meeting with St Mirren earlier that afternoon at 15:00.

The TV schedule is full, the broadcasters are satisfied, and the city’s summer showpiece events are locked in. Celtic, though, begin their title defence under the lights on a Monday, convinced their status – and their supporters – merited something better.