The final of the Champions League this season in Budapest will begin at 6 pm local time (9 PM PKT) instead of at 9 pm (midnight pkt) to “improve the experience of the day,” UEFA announced on Thursday.
The 2026 final will be played at Puskas Arena on Saturday, May 30.
“A previous start makes one day trips more feasible, reduce travel stress and allow fans to enjoy the occasion without worrying about night logistics,” said Ronan Ein, executive director of the supporters of Soccer Europe, who worked on the subject with UEFA.
Unlike the European League finals and the Conference, which are played in the middle of the week, the Showpuite of the Champions League was held on Saturdays since 2010.
“While a start of 21:00 CET is very suitable for the games in the middle of the week, a previous start on a Saturday for the final means an earlier ending, regardless of extra time or penalties,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Paris Saint-Germain won its first European Cup in the final of last season, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich.
