Promotions and relegations in the EFL: Who's going up, who's going down?
From the high-life of the Premier League all the way to League Two, ESPN rounds up every side to have been promoted or relegated this season.
www.espn.com.sgHere are the latest updates on EFL Championship promotion as of mid-May 2026.
Core outcomes
- Coventry City clinched automatic promotion to the Premier League for the 2026-27 season, finishing top of the Championship. This confirms their status as champions.[1][3]
- Ipswich Town secured the second automatic promotion spot, sealing their return to the Premier League on the final day. Their 3-0 win at home secured the spot.[3][1]
- The playoff places (third to sixth) will determine the remaining team to reach the Premier League via the Wembley final, with the playoff format explained as usual (two-legged semis followed by a single-match final).[6]
Context and outlook
- The Championship race for promotion has been highly competitive this season, with multiple teams (Hull, Middlesbrough, Millwall, and others) contending for playoff positions at various points, but Coventry and Ipswich ultimately secured the two automatic slots.[8][1]
- Playoff participants and pathway: teams finishing 3rd-6th enter the playoffs; the semi-finals are two-legged, and the final at Wembley determines the third promoted team. The playoffs are widely regarded as the “richest game in football” due to potential financial rewards.[6]
- For the most up-to-date playoff contenders and final standings, reputable outlets like ESPN, NBC Sports, and Sky Sports have ongoing coverage; confirmation of exact playoff standings is typically finalized on the final matchday or shortly after. You can check their latest summaries for any last-minute changes or re-seeding events.[3][8]
Illustrative snapshot
- Automatic promotions: Coventry City (Champions) and Ipswich Town (2nd).
- Playoffs: Normally include the teams finishing 3rd-6th; the winner joins Coventry and Ipswich in the Premier League for 2026-27.[6]
Would you like me to pull the most current playoff bracket and a live-status update from a specific outlet (e.g., ESPN or Sky Sports) and share a concise table with the semis, aggregate scores, and dates? I can also provide a simple visual summary (bar chart of final positions) if you’d like.