Defending champions East Bengal FC will begin their Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 campaign on October 18, opening their title defence against Churchill Brothers SC at the JLN Stadium in Goa.
The Red & Gold Brigade will begin the new campaign with a challenging run of away fixtures, with their first three league matches scheduled outside Kolkata. East Bengal FC will finally return to their home fortress on November 20, when they host Sporting Club Delhi at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
The first home game will be followed by the fixture that every football fan in Kolkata will have marked on the calendar.
Kolkata Derby on November 29
The first Kolkata Derby of the ISL 2026-27 season is scheduled for Sunday, November 29, with East Bengal FC hosting Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
The derby, scheduled for a 7:30 PM kick-off, will be East Bengal’s second home fixture of the campaign and one of the biggest occasions of the league season.
With the defending champions beginning their title defence away from home before returning to Kolkata, the derby will add another major chapter to the long-standing rivalry between the two Kolkata giants.
The home schedule includes encounters against:
Sporting Club Delhi
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Punjab FC
NorthEast United FC
Odisha FC
FC Goa
The Red & Gold Brigade will also travel for six away fixtures against:
Churchill Brothers SC
Inter Kashi FC
Chennaiyin FC
Mumbai City FC
Bengaluru FC
Kerala Blasters FC
The schedule therefore provides East Bengal with an even split between six home and six away fixtures in the league phase.
ISL Returns to Home-and-Away Format
The 2026-27 season marks the return of the Indian Super League to its traditional home-and-away league format.
With 13 clubs participating, every team will face each of its opponents twice — once at home and once away — resulting in 24 league matches for every club.
The 13 participating teams are Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers SC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Inter Kashi FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC and Sporting Club Delhi.
For East Bengal FC, the new campaign brings the challenge of defending their crown across a full-length league season, with a mix of familiar rivals, away challenges and high-profile home encounters awaiting them.
East Bengal FC ISL 2026-27 Fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
| 18-Oct-26 | Churchill Brothers SC | JLN Stadium, Goa | 5:00 PM |
| 23-Oct-26 | Inter Kashi FC | TBC | 5:00 PM |
| 7-Nov-26 | Chennaiyin FC | JLN Stadium, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| 20-Nov-26 | Sporting Club Delhi | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 5:00 PM |
| 29-Nov-26 | Mohun Bagan SG | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 7:30 PM |
| 4-Dec-26 | Punjab FC | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 7:30 PM |
| 13-Dec-26 | Mumbai City FC | Andheri Sports Complex | 5:00 PM |
| 17-Dec-26 | Bengaluru FC | Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 21-Dec-26 | NorthEast United FC | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 7:30 PM |
| 3-Jan-26 | Odisha FC | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 5:00 PM |
| 9-Jan-26 | FC Goa | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 5:00 PM |
| 16-Jan-27 | Kerala Blasters FC | JLN Stadium, Kochi | 7:30 PM |
