In the past decade, fans attending the UEFA Champions League final have been treated to a warm-up show ahead of the action in the form of an elaborate opening ceremony.
As the European club football season nears its crescendo, the occasion is now marked by a live musical performance from a stellar act.
Opening ceremonies have long been a feature of major sporting events, most notably the Olympics, and they have become a more common feature of football events in recent years.
Here is all you need to know about the 2026 Champions League Opening Ceremony.
Champions League Final 2026 – Date, Kick-Off Time & TV Channel
Kick-off time is set for5pm BST (12 noon ET) and the opening ceremony is scheduled to begin 15 minutes earlier at 7:45pm BST (2:45pm ET).
In the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and available to stream live on HBO Max. In the United States, fans will be able to watch it live on CBS, Paramount+, DAZN, TUDN and Univision.
The Killers to Play 2026 Champions League Final ‘Kick-Off Show’
UEFA announced back in March 2026 that American rock band The Killers would headline their Champions League final opening ceremony – or ‘Kick-Off Show’, as it is being marketed by the European football governing body and their sponsor, Pepsi.
Fronted by singer Brandon Flowers, The Killers have enjoyed global success since their breakthrough 2004 album ‘Hot Fuss’, which featured the hit single ‘Mr Brightside’.
UEFA and Pepsi revealed that The Killers would play in a playful video featuring the band and David Beckham as they raced towards the venue in various modes of transport. Flowers takes a sports car, while Beckham zooms by on a motorbike and the band takes an airplane.
The band explained that they had no hesitation when asked if they would be interested in performing ahead of the Champions League final. “Some stages speak for themselves,” they said in a statement. “We’re honoured to celebrate the incredible teams and players at what will undoubtedly be an epic match.”
As well as The Killers, internationally renowned concert pianist Adam Gyorgy will perform the world-famous Champions League Anthem ahead of the game.
Gyorgy previously played the anthem ahead of the 2023 Champions League final and will do so now in 2026 in native Hungary.
With the Premier League title secured, ardent Gunners supporters will be eager to join the celebrations
Previous Champions League Opening Ceremony Acts
Year
Artist
Venue
2026
The Killers
Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary
2025
Linkin Park
Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
2024
Lenny Kravitz
Wembley Stadium, London, England
2023
Alesso, Burna Boy, Anitta
Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey
2022
Camila Cabello
Stade de France, Paris, France
2021
Marshmello, Selena Gomez, Khalid
Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal
2020
None
Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
2019
Imagine Dragons
Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
2018
Dua Lipa, Sean Paul
Olimpiskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine
2017
Black Eyed Peas
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
2016
Alicia Keys
San Siro, Milan, Italy
UEFA first began incorporating a live music opening ceremony as part of the Champions League final in 2016. On that occasion, American singer Alicia Keys was the headline act.
Restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant that there was no opening ceremony in 2020, but there was a virtual one in 2021, with Marshmello, Selena Gomez and Khalid performing.
Camila Cabello was the headline act in 2022, followed by Alesso, Burna Boy and Anitta in 2023. American pop sensation Lenny Kravitz was the opening ceremony act in 2024, with the rock band Linkin Park doing the honours in 2025.
Manchester United have completed the signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson, according to club insider Sully.
Man United‘s interest in the Brazilian has ramped up in recent weeks, with Fabrizio Romano confirming on Wednesday evening that an agreement to sign the 26-year-old was ‘very close’, with an agreement on personal terms already reached.
Romano confirmed at the time that it was now up to United whether they wanted to proceed with the Atalanta star, or pursue other midfield targets instead.
All the signals are that Ederson will soon become a Red Devils player though, as United look to complete a major rebuild of their midfield for Michael Carrick during the summer transfer window.
With Casemiro leaving and Manuel Ugarte out of favour and expected to follow him through the Old Trafford exit door, Kobbie Mainoo is the only specialist first-team central midfielder left at the club.
Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount did play in the position throughout the season, but both players are more suited to playing further forward.
One report has suggested that if Ugarte does go, then the Red Devils could look to bring in up to three new central midfielders in the summer.
‘Welcome to Man United’ – Insider Hints Ederson Transfer Done
Sully posted ‘welcome to Manchester United’, accompanied by a video Ederson’s highlights, on X on Thursday afternoon, suggesting that an agreement is now complete for the Brazil international.
The Times reported on Wednesday that a £38m agreement had been reached between the two clubs, but Romano suggested that wasn’t quite true when he provided an update on Wednesday night, although he did admit an agreement was on the brink.
One big positive of United signing Ederson is the fact that he hasn’t been called up to the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup, which means he will be ready for the start of pre-season.
Man United Still Need Casemiro Replacement
Reports have suggested that United want to sign a top-class replacement for Casemiro in the summer who will cost around the £80m mark, so it would be safe to assume that the Brazilian won’t be the direct replacement for his counterpart at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are eyeing other big-money midfielders like Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni and Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, with the latter attracting the most talk in recent days.
Reports out of Italy have suggested that United are also close to an agreement to bring the €100m-rated Italy international to Old Trafford.
With the 2026/27 season on the way, teams around the world have begun to unveil their new kits for the upcoming campaign, many of which are likely to go down in history as iconic designs associated with moments of brilliance.
Be it a title win, a trophy lift, continental qualification, or simply unexpected survival in a division, each shirt has a story to tell about a season come the end.
But while we wait for those stories to be written on the pitch, all we can do now is simply admire the kits for their design, and there are some good ones to eye up already.
So, with that said, here’s a look at the best kit designs for 2026/27 revealed so far.
10
Liverpool (Home)
Adidas/Liverpool 2026/27 kit
Liverpool‘s 2026/27 home kit is a throwback design inspired by the shirt the club wore from 1989 until 1991, which saw the Reds win the league title in 1989/90.
The Adidas design throws in similar patterns to that original kit, which it is well-remembered for alongside the Candy sponsorship, while it includes red and white trim around the collar, as well as the three strips on the shoulders that the kit manufacturers are well-known for.
It doesn’t quite nail the same aesthetic, but it gets relatively close, though there is no particular reason why that old design was chosen other than it being a relatively iconic look.
The new typeface on the back of the shirts does go well with the kit, however, and is certainly in with a shout of being among the top spots for the kits revealed so far.
9
Manchester United (Home)
Adidas/Manchester United
Manchester United will mark their return to the Champions League with a home kit that looks exactly how a United home kit should look.
The Adidas design comes with the usual red base, with white details with the shoulder stripes, as well as the kit manufacturer’s logo and the sponsor.
The collar looks smart, and the accents on the outside of it, as well as the arms, come with a white and black mix that has become synonymous with Man United kits.
That design is claimed to represent the iconic 1970s look.
8
Arsenal (Home)
Adidas/Arsenal
After being crowned Premier League champions for 2025/26, Arsenal quickly moved to unveil their new look for the following season, with hopes that the kit will see them win another trophy or two.
While it is the usual red and white expected of the Gunners in collaboration with Adidas, the finer details are a celebration of the club’s move to the Emirates Stadium 20 years ago.
The collar, shoulder trim and arm trim are all fit with a special design, meant to represent the stadium’s architecture after finally making the place feel like home.
It’s nothing too extravagant, but it screams Arsenal, and that’s all that the home kit needs to do.
Adidas continues to be ahead of the pack when it comes to releasing kits early on, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich next up in the ranking.
After a design that was pretty out there for 2025/26, there is a return to something that is instantly recognisable as the Bavarian club.
There’s a return to an all-red base, with slightly darker red stripes in the centre of the kit, which keeps it slightly more subtle compared to the white stripe and white hoop designs of the 2010s.
As always, Adidas have their iconic stripes across the shoulders, along with a nice white trim across the collar and arms that help add that little bit of flair to an otherwise clean design.
6
Manchester City (Home)
Puma/Manchester City
We have a new kit manufacturer entering the fray for this list, and it’s Puma, who have come out with a bold new look for Manchester City, during what is set to be a bold new era for the club.
The first post-Pep Guardiola shirt features the usual sky blue, but there is a gradient through the kit that fades to white at the bottom, which carries on to the short design, while there are white trims across the kit, as well as white logos across the kit.
The theme is “Not Your Typical City”, with the idea being about change and moving forward, as represented in the kit being something a bit different.
It’s certainly fresh and distinctive, and it should look good on the pitch come August.
5
Celtic (Home)
Adidas/Celtic
Celtic won the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership in dramatic fashion, but remain top of the tree in the division, and will be looking to retain the title again in 2026/27.
The new home shirt for the campaign is an impressive one, and while the gold could represent the recent title win, it is actually an anniversary kit.
The design pays tribute to the Lisbon Lions, the Celtic team in 1967 that won the European Cup in impressive fashion with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan.
Within the gold accents there is also the phrase “60 Anniversario” above the crest, topping off a kit that includes the traditional green and white hoops and the usual Adidas stripes on the shoulders.
4
Juventus (Home)
Adidas/Juventus
Sticking with the gold theme, Juventus and Adidas have smashed it out the park with an impressive design for the 2026/27 home kit.
The club crest, Adidas logo, and sponsor are all draped in gold, with a kit that is meant to represent tradition and heritage in what could be an important campaign for the Bianconeri.
While the stripes are further apart than other recent kits, the polo-styled collar makes it look like a timeless entry from Juventus that could look smart on the biggest stage.
3
Real Betis (Home)
Hummel/Real Betis
Welcome Hummel to the mix, as their entry for Real Betis is a mixture of iconic and fresh to create something fascinating for the 2026/27 La Liga campaign.
The home kit plays on the usual green and white stripes, but with distorted stripes across the top and bottom thirds of the kit to stand out from other designs.
The wide v-neck collar gives it a sleek look that will make it a fan-favourite for many football fans looking at kits across the world for the coming campaign.
2
Aston Villa (Home)
Adidas/Aston Villa
Adidas has simply smashed it out of the park with this Aston Villa home kit, opting for a throwback look that harks back to designs from the 1960s.
The club has gone back to just claret and blue across the whole shirt, including the kit crest and the Adidas logo, making it fit the two-tone look.
It’s a clean and effective look that fits that of European champions, though it remains to be seen whether a sponsor could change how the overall design comes across.
1
Lyon (Away)
Adidas/Lyon
Taking top spot (for now) is Lyon‘s away kit for the 2026/27 season, which puts together a burgundy and gold mixture to come out looking classy.
The design pays tribute to the city’s silk workers and craftmanship, going for style and substance without adding too much or too little to the overall kit.
The crest opts for just the lion that features in the “O” of the modern OL badge, while Adidas have decided to include the trefoil logo over their newer three-striped option, bringing together a classic look.
The design is brought together by the polo-styled collar, making this the best-looking kit currently revealed.
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign Bournemouth star Marcos Senesi, with a contract to be signed soon, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
The Lilywhites avoided disaster on the final day of the Premier League season by claiming all three points against Everton, keeping them in the division and maintaining their status as an ever-present club in the top-flight since it’s inception in 1992.
Now manager Roberto De Zerbi is keen to make big additions to his squad in the upcoming summer transfer window to improve the team, and ensure that is a scenario they are never in again.
Tottenham Agree Deal for Senesi
Senesi, who has been described as ‘outstanding’, is set to become a free agent at the end of June when his Bournemouth contract expires, and he is understood to be a target for a number of top clubs.
But after months of talks with the north London club, Spurs have now won the race for his signature, with the Argentina international making a final decision over his future.
Senesi has now agreed all terms over his contract and is expected to formally put pen to paper on his deal in the coming days, with Galetti describing the deal as ‘done’.
The 29-year-old is expected to be named in Argentina’s World Cup squad for the tournament this summer, where he will be alongside Cristian Romero, who is expected to depart Tottenham this summer after months of speculation.
Senesi will join the club alongside Andy Robertson, who is expected to sign after leaving Liverpool when his contract expires this summer, after a deal that was initially agreed in January collapsed.