CBF confirms Brasileirão 2026 schedule and new rules | OneFootball

The CBF announced on Monday the 38-round basic fixture list for the 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro, along with the competition regulations and general action plan. The documents set out dates, home designations and notable rule changes for Série A.

A key change concerns mid-season transfers. Up to the 2025 edition, won by Flamengo, a player could switch clubs only if he had played at most six matches. From 2026 the cap rises to 12.

Qualification for the Conmebol Libertadores also shifts. Previously the top four went straight to the group stage, with fifth and sixth in the preliminaries. From next season the league will award five direct group places, as the Copa do Brasil will send two clubs to the continental competition from 2026.

The regulations confirm the Copa do Brasil runners-up will enter the Libertadores preliminaries. If the cup winners already hold a group-stage berth by another route, the runners-up inherit that direct place. Should Libertadores-qualified sides reach the cup final, the spare places revert to the league.

The opening round is set for 28 and 29 January. Holders Flamengo visit São Paulo, and 2025 runners-up Palmeiras travel to Atlético-MG.

Other first-round fixtures, home teams first, are Fluminense v Grêmio, Botafogo v Cruzeiro, Corinthians v Bahia, Mirassol v Vasco, Internacional v Athletico-PR, Coritiba v Red Bull Bragantino, Vitória v Remo and Chapecoense v Santos.

Source: Globo.com