Cymru Premier to expand to 16 teams with new split
The New Saints won their 16th Cymru Premier title last season
- Published
The Cymru Premier will expand to 16 teams and include a new end-of-season split into three divisions from 2026-27.
Wales’ top flight currently consists of 12 clubs and, after each plays each other home and away, the league splits into two divisions of six.
In the new format, once the 16 teams have played each other home and away, the new split will see the league divided into three tiers of six, four and six clubs to contest the title, European qualification and relegation respectively.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) hopes the changes will "build the profile, brand and awareness of the league", boost attendances and enhance the competition's commercial appeal.
The FAW also hopes the new format will improve Welsh clubs' performances in European competition, with the Cymru Premier currently 50th out of 55 in Uefa's association club coefficients system, which ranks Europe's domestic leagues.
From 2026-27, the top six in the Cymru Premier – the 'Championship Race' – will play each other once more, with the team top of the table after the 35th matchday crowned champions. Clubs ranked second to sixth will qualify for at least the end-of-season European qualification play-offs.
Clubs ranked seventh to 10th – the 'European Challenger' – will play each other once more, with the club placed seventh after matchday 33 claiming the final spot in the end-of-season European qualification play-offs.
Finally, clubs ranked 11th to 16th – the 'Survival Zone' – will also play each other once more. At the end of matchday 35, the clubs in 15th and 16th will be automatically relegated, while the club in 14th will compete in the relegation play-off.
Here, they will meet the winner of a tie between the runner-up in the Cymru North and runner-up in the Cymru South for the right to remain in the Cymru Premier.
In a statement explaining the new format, the FAW said its main reasons for the changes were:
Fan connection: “By creating more fixture scarcity and delivering high-stakes matches throughout the season, fans are more likely to stay engaged from start to finish. The structure also increases geographical representation across Wales and the chance to build relationships with new supporters.”
Quality and jeopardy: “The format helps maintain a high level of competition, offering top teams better preparation for European qualifiers while providing additional development opportunities for emerging talent. The introduction of a relegation play-off adds a new level of jeopardy to the league.”
Sustainable growth: “With enhanced competitive dynamics and increased opportunities for matchday, sponsorship, and broadcast revenue growth, the new structure ensures long-term sustainability for the Cymru Premier. Clubs’ own commercial revenues should also increase with more home matches and increased fan engagement.”
Jack Sharp, the FAW’s head of domestic leagues, said: “We are delighted to finally be able to share the new JD Cymru Premier format for the 2026-27 season onwards.
“It was important that a structure could be identified that allows our clubs to flourish, the FAW to work towards the outcomes of the JD Cymru Premier strategy and have a top-flight league which the country can be proud of.
“An analytical, data-driven process was run to thoroughly analyse the best league structure through the lens of guiding principles. We have built a model where connection is at the heart of our league as we strive to create a more accessible, exciting and engaging JD Cymru Premier.
“It was fantastic to see how positive our current JD Cymru Premier clubs have received the new format and the excitement that came out of a recent meeting with owners and chairs.”