Champions League 2025-2026: UEFA announces a change for the final | OneFootball

Champions League

Just hours before the Champions League group stage draw, UEFA has made an announcement regarding the final of the 2025-2026 campaign.

While we await to discover this Thursday evening the fate awaiting the 36 participating teams, UEFA has just announced a major change for this new edition of the Champions League. The kick-off for the final (scheduled in Budapest this year) will not be at 9:00 pm (French time), but three hours earlier.

“UEFA today announced a significant change to the schedule of its flagship competition: starting from the 2026 final in Budapest, the kick-off time for the UEFA Champions League final will be moved forward from 21:00 CET to 18:00 CET. This decision aims to enhance the overall experience for fans, teams, and host cities on matchday by optimizing logistics and operations, while also offering several tangible benefits. Our goal is to make matchday a truly enjoyable experience for everyone eager to be part of the excitement, while creating a welcoming atmosphere that allows families and children to easily attend the most important and prestigious club football match of the season,” reads the statement published on UEFA's official website.