When is Champions League draw? Date, time, how to watch and format explained

The road to the 2026 UEFA Champions League final in Budapest takes its next decisive step on Friday, 27 February, when the competition’s last draw of the season unfolds at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. The ceremony, scheduled for 6 a.m. ET, will be streamed live on UEFA.com, UEFA.tv and the official Champions League app, revealing the round-of-16 pairings that will shape the remainder of Europe’s premier club tournament.

Wednesday’s playoff round concludes with four second-leg ties, sending the final quartet into the last 16 alongside the four teams that secured progression on Tuesday. Those eight survivors will join the eight clubs that earned direct passage by finishing inside the top eight of the league-phase standings, creating a 16-team knockout bracket.

Seeding will play a pivotal role in the draw. The eight highest-placed sides from the league phase are protected, guaranteeing them the second leg at home in their round-of-16 tie. Clubs advancing through the playoff round enter the draw knowing their potential opponents are already limited; for instance, Newcastle will face either Chelsea or Barcelona, and no other combination is possible. Country protection has been removed, meaning teams from the same nation can be paired, and rematches from the league phase are also permissible.

Once the pairings are set on Friday, the tournament moves to a fixed bracket, eliminating the need for any further draws. From the round of 16 onward, each club’s path to the Puskás Aréna—where the final will kick off at 12 p.m. ET on 30 May 2026—is predetermined.