SAINTS now know they will host newly-promoted, Hollywood-backed outfit Wrexham to begin their 2025/26 Championship season.

The St Mary's side will compete for promotion back out of the second tier this campaign, following their relegation from the Premier League.

Will Still's charges will get their campaign under way with a visit from the Red Dragons at 12:30pm on Saturday, August 9, live on Sky Sports.

A home match for Saints means they will play at St Mary's in their opening game of the season for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign.

Saints won their opening day fixture of the 2023/24 Championship season, with a late goal from Che Adams to make it 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday.

Fans do not have to wait long until a first South Coast derby in league action in over a decade, with Saints hosting rivals Portsmouth first.

Southampton's first six Championship fixturesSouthampton's first six Championship fixtures (Image: SDE)

Pompey visit St Mary's on Saturday, September 13, although, like all fixtures at this stage, dates and kick-off times are subject to change.

Saints then head to enemy territory at Fratton Park on Saturday, January 24, looking to replicate their 4-0 win there in the EFL Cup in 2019.

Saints are away at Oxford United on Boxing Day and will host Millwall on New Year's Day, with those clashes sandwiching a trip to Birmingham.

Saints finish at home against Blackburn on Saturday, April 25, in the league's penultimate match, before a trip to Preston on Saturday, May 2.

Southampton's last six Championship fixturesSouthampton's last six Championship fixtures (Image: SDE)

In total, Saints will compete in 46 Championship matches as they look to make an immediate return to the Premier League for a second time.

Championship fixture schedule 2025/26

August

Saturday, August 9 (12:30pm) - Wrexham (h)

Saturday, August 16 - Ipswich Town (a)

Saturday, August 23 - Stoke City (h)

Saturday, August 30 - Watford (a)

September

Saturday, September 13 - Portsmouth (h)

Saturday, September 20 - Hull City (a)

Saturday, September 27 - Middlesbrough (h)

Tuesday, September 30 - Sheffield United (a)

October

Saturday, October 4 - Derby County (a)

Saturday, October 18 - Swansea City (h)

Tuesday, October 21 - Bristol City (a)

Saturday, October 25 - Blackburn Rovers (a)

November

Saturday, November 1 - Preston North End (h)

Wednesday, November 5 - QPR (a)

Saturday, November 8 - Sheffield Wednesday (h)

Saturday, November 22 - Charlton Athletic (a)

Tuesday, November 25 - Leicester City (h)

Saturday, November 29 - Millwall (a)

December

Saturday, December 6 - Birmingham City (h)

Tuesday, December 9 - West Brom (h)

Saturday, December 13 - Norwich City (a)

Saturday, December 20 - Coventry City (h)

Friday, December 26 - Oxford United (a)

Monday, December 29 - Birmingham City (a)

January

Thursday, January 1 - Millwall (h)

Sunday, January 4 - Middlesbrough (a)

Saturday, January 17 - Hull City (h)

Wednesday, January 21 - Sheffield United (h)

Saturday, January 24 - Portsmouth (a)

Saturday, January 31 - Stoke City (a)

February

Saturday, February 7 - Watford (h)

Saturday, February 14 - Leicester City (a)

Saturday, February 21 - Charlton Athletic (h)

Tuesday, February 24 - QPR (h)

Saturday, February 28 - Sheffield Wednesday (a)

March

Saturday, March 7 - Norwich City (h)

Wednesday, March 11 - West Brom (a)

Saturday, March 14 - Coventry City (a)

Saturday, March 21 - Oxford United (h)

April

Friday, April 3 - Ipswich Town (h)

Monday, April 6 - Wrexham (a)

Saturday, April 11 - Derby County (h)

Saturday, April 18 - Swansea City (a)

Tuesday, April 21 - Bristol City (h)

Saturday, April 25 - Blackburn Rovers (h)

May

Saturday, May 2 - Preston North End (a)