Champions Hamrun Spartans will be facing newly-promoted Tarxien Rainbows while runners-up Birkirkara take on Challenge League winners Valletta on match day 1 of the Malta Premier 2025/26 Opening Round. The draws for the Malta Premier 2025/26 Opening Round league phase were held on Tuesday during a live transmission on TVMSport+.
The league will kick-off on Saturday August 16 with the matches Valletta vs Birkirkara and Zabbar St. Patrick vs Sliema Wanderers. On Sunday August 17, the two scheduled matches are Tarxien Rainbows vs Hamrun Spartans and Naxxar Lions vs Floriana while on Monday August 18, Hibernians vs Gzira United and Marsaxlokk vs Mosta complete the programme for match day 1.
For the first part of the season, matches will kick-off at 18:45 and 21:00.
Speaking ahead of the draws on behalf of the MPL, Alan Abela said “At the start of the league, we set out with a clear goal to increase spectator attendance. For the first time, we’ve achieved a surplus, generating over €80,000 in net profit. With Valletta back in the competition, we expect an additional boost in interest and turnout.
“This must be a collective effort. We invite clubs to organize hospitality events, and we are committed to making the process easier for them.”
“For yet another season, children under the age of 12 will be granted free access to stadiums when accompanied by a parent or guardian.”
Abela added “We’re aware of the limitations of our stadium infrastructure, which is why we are placing greater focus on the Tony Bezzina Stadium, where the atmosphere is significantly better.”
“Additionally, to help clubs manage costs related to police and security, we will no longer schedule high-profile matches on Sundays.”
The format will be the same as last season with the league being played on two rounds – the Opening Round and the Closing Round. Both rounds shall be played on a round-robin basis of one round of fixtures involving all the twelve Premier League clubs and at the end of each round the clubs shall be divided into two sections – Top 6 and Bottom 6.
Opening Round
The Opening Round of the Premier League shall consist of eleven match days on a single round-robin basis between the twelve Premier League teams. At the end of these matches, the top six teams will play in the Top 6 and the remaining six in the Bottom 6.
The teams in each of these groups shall then play five matches each on a single round-robin basis. Teams shall carry over the number of points obtained during the round-robin phase.
Closing Round
The Closing Round shall commence immediately after the closure of the Opening Round and all teams participating shall commence this round afresh at zero points.
The Closing Round of the Premier League shall consist of eleven match days on a single round-robin basis between the twelve Premier League teams. At the end of these matches, the top six teams will play in the Top 6 and the remaining six in the Bottom 6.
The teams in each of these groups shall then play five matches each on a single round-robin basis. Teams shall carry over the number of points obtained during the round-robin phase.
If the same team wins both the Opening Round and Closing Round, that team will be declared Champion.
If the same two teams end first or second in both the Opening Round and Closing Round, a play-off would determine the Championship but if there are at least three different teams who finish either first or second in the Opening and Closing Rounds, the Final Four would determine the Championship.
Relegation
If the same two teams finish in the bottom two places in both the Opening Round and Closing Round, the two teams will be relegated. If only one team finishes in the bottom two places in both the Opening Round and Closing Round, then that team will be relegated and a relegation decider between the other two teams who finish in the bottom two places would determine the other team to be relegated. On the other hand, in case, four different teams finish in the bottom two places in the Opening Round and Closing Round, then two deciders are played and the losers are relegated.
