WIDNES Vikings’ 2026 fixtures in the new-look 21-team Championship are now confirmed.
Following confirmation of a merger of the Championship and League 1 competitions at the end of last season, 2026 will include 21 teams from across the UK.
The league will be 24 rounds long, with each club playing 12 others on a home and away basis.
Ten of those fixtures have been determined by league positions from the 2025 season, while two opponents are based on geographical location to ensure all clubs get to play against their local rivals.
A new four week 10-team play-off format will be used at the end of the year to determine the teams for the Grand Final, which will be on Sunday, October 4.
All clubs will also compete in the 1895 Cup, with the final to take place at a new venue for 2026.
Allan Coleman's Vikings side have been handed a tough start to the Championship season with a trip to the capital to face London Broncos on Sunday, January 18.
Broncos are set to be the heavy favourites to dominate the Championship next year following a takeover by a consortium including NRL icon Darren Lockyer.
Following round one, all Championship clubs will compete in round two of the Challenge Cup on January 24/25 before the league resumes the following weekend.
Vikings’ first home league game of the season will see North Wales Crusaders visit the DCBL Stadium on Sunday, February 1.
Vikings’ first league game against Salford Red Devils since 2018 will be away on Friday, May 8, while the return fixture at the DCBL Stadium will also be a Friday night game on July 24.
That is one of two scheduled Friday night games, the other being the visit of Oldham on June 26.
There will also be a Saturday evening game, when Barrow Raiders come to town on July 18, while the trip to Cumbria to face Barrow takes place on Good Friday, April 3.
There will be two ‘bye’ weekends due to the odd number of teams.
Widnes Vikings’ 2026 Championship fixture list:
1 – Sun 18 Jan – London Broncos – Away – 3pm
2 – Sun 1 Feb – North Wales Crusaders – Home – 3pm
3 – Sun 15 Feb – Workington Town – Away – 3pm
4 – Fri 20 Feb – Oldham – Away – 7.45pm
5 – Bye week
6 – Sun 8 Mar – Hunslet – Home – 3pm
7 – Sun 22 Mar – Doncaster – Away – 3pm
8 – Sun 29 Mar – Featherstone Rovers – Home – 3pm
9 – Fri 3 Apr – Barrow Raiders – Away – 3pm
10 – Sun 12 Apr – Dewsbury Rams – Away – 3pm
11 – Sun 26 Apr – Halifax Panthers – Home – 3pm
12 – Sun 3 May – Sheffield Eagles – Home – 3pm
13 – Fri 8 May – Salford Red Devils – Away – 8pm
14 – Bye week
15 – Sun 7 Jun – Dewsbury Rams – Home – 3pm
16 – Sun 14 Jun – Doncaster – Home – 3pm
17 – Sun 21 Jun – Hunslet – Away – 3pm
18 – Fri 26 Jun – Oldham – Home – 7.30pm
19 – Sun 12 Jul – North Wales Crusaders – Away – 3pm
20 – Sat 18 Jul – Barrow Raiders – Home – 5pm
21 – Sun 24 Jul – Salford Red Devils – Home – 7.30pm
22 – Sun 2 Aug – London Broncos – Home – 3pm
23 – Sun 9 Aug – Featherstone Rovers – Away – 3pm
24 – Sun 16 Aug – Halifax Panthers – Away – 3pm
25 – Sun 23 Aug – Workington Town – Home – 3pm
26 – Sun 30 Aug – Sheffield Eagles – Away – 3pm
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