The 2026 League Two playoffs will determine which club joins the automatically promoted sides in League One next season. Four teams—Salford City, Notts County, Chesterfield, and Grimsby Town—will compete in the semi-finals for the chance to lift the trophy at Wembley, where Cambridge United have already secured automatic promotion after finishing in the top three.
The playoff structure follows the traditional EFL format. Two-legged semi-finals will take place between 10 and 15 May 2026, with the winners progressing to a single-match final. The playoff final is scheduled for 25 May 2026 at Wembley Stadium, coinciding with the late May Bank Holiday weekend. Only one team will emerge victorious and earn promotion to the third tier.
Format and Qualification Criteria
League Two clubs finishing between fourth and seventh place in the 2025/26 season automatically enter the playoffs. This year's quartet represent some of the division's most ambitious sides. The semi-final fixtures will test defensive resilience and attacking potency over 180 minutes, while the final offers a clean slate—a sudden-death encounter where composure and tactical nous separate champions from runners-up. Historically, the playoff pathway has produced dramatic comebacks and heartbreaking exits.
Broadcasting coverage will be comprehensive across multiple platforms. Sky Sports holds exclusive UK rights, showing every playoff match on Sky Sports Football and Main Event or via Sky GO. International audiences in the United States can watch via CBS and Paramount+. This accessibility ensures fans worldwide can follow the promotion race.
Recent Context
Last season's 2025 League Two playoff final saw AFC Wimbledon defeat Walsall 1–0 in a tightly contested affair, securing their return to League One. That victory capped an impressive playoff campaign and underscored how the knockout format rewards consistent performers capable of maintaining intensity across multiple matches. The 2026 edition promises similarly compelling narratives as these four contenders battle for the final promotion spot.
