Schedule & Fixtures Premiership Schottland 2025/26 – How do Celtic and Rangers start?

The Scottish Premiership released the 2025/2026 fixture list on June 20, 2025. This announcement, made at 10 a.m. German time, is always highly anticipated by fans. But where will record champions Celtic and Glasgow Rangers be playing at the start of the season?

"Across Scotland, grown men behave like children on Christmas morning when the Premiership fixtures are released," wrote BBC Sport, "as was the case on Friday morning. They booked trains, checked hotel and booking websites, and scanned the most important pubs en route to the stadium via Google — all with military precision."

We do the same for football trips and Scottish Premiership tickets. 

The Scottish Premiership kicks off the new season on August 2, 2025 – with the match between Kilmarnock FC and Livingston FC. 

At 6:30 p.m. German time, the newly co-record holders Glasgow Rangers FC will take to the field – “The Gers” must travel to Motherwell FC.

The new co-record champions Celtic Glasgow, who outclassed Rangers by 16 points last year, will open the season at “Paradise” against St. Mirren FC.

Even more important for football trips to Scotland than checking pubs or train connections is knowing the dates for the Old Firm Derby.

No match in Scotland — and only a few in the UK or even Europe — has the aura of Celtic vs. Glasgow Rangers.

When is the first Old Firm Derby, Celtic vs. Glasgow Rangers?

In the 2024/2025 season, Rangers took seven points from the derbies against their city and arch-rivals. 

For the next derby, it’s high noon. At 12:00 local time (1:00 p.m. German time), the two Glasgow clubs, Rangers and Celtic, will meet on August 31, 2025 (Matchday 3) at Ibrox for the first Old Firm Derby of the season.

Celtic will then have home advantage on January 3, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. German time, before the Rangers host again on February 28, 2026 (4:00 p.m.).

When is the Edinburgh Derby?

Also steeped in tradition in Scotland: the Edinburgh Derby between Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian.

The first meeting of the season is scheduled for October 4, 2025 (4:00 p.m.) at Tynecastle Park, home of Heart of Midlothian. Hibernian will host their arch-rivals at Easter Road on December 27, 2025, before The Hearts again enjoy home advantage on February 11.

What are the first matches for Glasgow Rangers and Celtic?

The first home match for Glasgow Rangers is against Dundee FC. Then they travel to Dundee United before heading into the derby against Celtic.

“The Bhoys”, as Celtic Glasgow are also known to their fans, will play their opening match against St. Mirren, then face Aberdeen FC away and host Livingston FC at Parkhead before the first Old Firm.

Can Premiership kick-off times change?

Yes! So far, only the kick-off times for the Glasgow and Edinburgh derbies are set. Many matches will be rescheduled due to TV contracts and the involvement of Scottish teams in European competitions. So far, only Celtic as champions and Aberdeen FC are guaranteed spots in the European group stages. If Dundee United, Hibernian, and Rangers qualify for Europe, additional fixture changes will occur. 

Who do Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, and Hibernian play around Christmas?

The Christmas matchday in Scotland falls on December 27, 2025, featuring Rangers FC vs. Motherwell FC, Livingston FC vs. Celtic (both at 4:00 p.m. German time), and the aforementioned Edinburgh Derby between Hibernian and Hearts, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m.