Celtic irked by Monday season start against Dundee

Celtic have voiced their disappointment after it was announced they will start their Scottish Premiership title defence on a Monday evening, because of a combination of the Commonwealth Games and two Calvin Harris concerts.

The Scottish champions say they made "repeated representations" to the SPFL and Police Scotland to ensure a weekend fixture but were told there was "no choice" but to have their opener against Dundee on 3 August (19:30 BST).

There will be Glasgow 2026 cycling events at the Sir Chris Hoy Arena - next to Celtic Park - over the weekend of 1 and 2 August, while Harris will stage two large concerts at Hampden on the same days.

"We feel strongly a weekend timing should have been facilitated in the interests of both teams, both sets of supporters and the status of the fixture," added Celtic, who said they had negotiated an earlier kick-off time to help fans travelling from Ireland.

All six opening-weekend fixtures will be shown live on television, with the 2026-27 term starting on Friday, 31 July as Dundee United host Rangers (20:00).

Hearts - last season's runners-up - visit Aberdeen on the Saturday (17:30), after Falkirk and St Mirren meet earlier in the day (15:00).

There are two games on Sunday, as newly promoted St Johnstone mark their return against Kilmarnock in Perth (14:00) before Hibernian entertain Motherwell (16:30).

The first Old Firm derby will be on Sunday, 20 September at Celtic Park (12:00).

There will be a Dundee derby at Dens Park during the third round of fixtures, while Edinburgh rivals Hibs and Hearts will go head-to-head at Easter Road on Wednesday, 2 September.

New Rangers manager Derek McInnes will return to Tynecastle on Wednesday, 28 October after his departure from Hearts.

Once again, there is no room in the schedule for a winter break.

Fixture round 33 arrives on 10 April, with the five rounds of post-split games ending on the weekend of 15 and 16 May.

Last season was one of the most dramatic in recent memory as Celtic clinched a fifth straight title by beating Hearts in the final few minutes of the last game.