Barcelona will begin 2026 with a frantic fixture schedule spread across four competitions

Having ended their run in 2025 on a winning note against Villarreal, FC Barcelona will kick off new year in a few days, when they take on RCD Espanyol in the Catalan derby.

The Catalans managed to go into the mid-season break on the back of a strong run of results, which put them at the top of La Liga, took them through to the Round of 16 in the Copa del Rey, while a late push for a top-eight finish in the Champions League remains possible.

But the start of 2026 will be anything but easy for the reigning Spanish champions.

A frantic start

Indeed, in just five days, a demanding 2026 will begin for Barcelona. The Catalan giants will compete in four different competitions during the first month of the year, playing between seven and eight matches and accumulating many kilometres in their legs.

The squad are currently enjoying a week of holiday, but they have been called back to training on Monday afternoon.

La Liga will be the competition with which Barcelona open 2026, on the 3rd of January, as the Blaugrana will play the Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium.

This year’s derby arrives with added intensity for two reasons. From a sporting perspective, both teams are enjoying a strong run of results and are in good form. In addition, Joan Garcia’s return to Espanyol after his summer move to Barcelona last summer will add tension.

A busy starts awaits Barcelona in 2026. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

After the match at the RCDE Stadium, Barcelona will travel to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup.

Barcelona, as La Liga champions, and Athletic Club, as Copa del Rey runners-up, will contest the first semi-final on 7 January. One day later, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will face each other. The final, if Barcelona progress, is scheduled for 11 January.

If the Catalans reach that final, they will have very little time to recover before the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Those ties will be played on 13, 14 and 15 January, although the opponent is not yet known, as the draw will not take place until 7 January. That week will conclude for Barcelona with a La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad.

The following week will see the return of the Champions League. On 21 January, Barcelona will face Slavia Prague. At the weekend, they will host Real Oviedo at the Spotify Camp Nou in a league fixture – potentially with an increased capacity.

In the final week of January, Hansi Flick’s men will once again be involved in the Champions League, hosting Copenhagen. Everything suggests that the match against Elche could take place on 1 February, although the kick-off time has yet to be confirmed.