The Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Finals return to Wembley Stadium over the May Bank Holiday weekend, 23 to 25 May 2026. Three Finals, three days, one unforgettable trip to Wembley Park. Whether you're up from Sunderland, across from Sheffield or in from Plymouth, this is your insider's guide to making the most of matchday and the weekend around it.
SHARE
Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Finals at a Glance
⚡ Three Finals across one weekend at Wembley Stadium, Empire Way, Wembley, HA9 0WS.
⚡ Saturday 23 May 2026: Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final, widely known as the richest game in football.
⚡ Sunday 24 May 2026: Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final.
⚡ Monday 25 May 2026 (Bank Holiday): Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Final.
⚡ Kick-off times confirmed by the EFL closer to the dates. Check back nearer the fixtures.
⚡ Tickets are sold exclusively by the competing clubs once finalists are confirmed, not through Wembley Stadium or this website.
⚡ Wembley Stadium is cashless. Contactless and card payments only.
⚡ No under-2s are permitted inside the stadium.
⚡ Wembley Park has more than 60 places to eat and drink, six on-site hotels, the OVO Arena, the London Designer Outlet and direct rail links to central London.
⚡ Restaurants, bars and BOXPARK Wembley open from 11am on matchday.
Your Ultimate Wembley Park Final Weekend Guide
If you're heading to Wembley Stadium for the Play-Off Finals this Bank Holiday, Wembley Park is the place to start. Arrive early, eat well, explore the neighbourhood, and you'll have a weekend to remember long after the final whistle.
For the supporters of six clubs, this weekend is the biggest of the season. For the rest of us, it's three days of brilliant football, packed pubs, sun-drenched terraces and a city-within-a-city built for matchday. Whichever Final you're heading to, or all three, here's everything you need to know to land smoothly, eat well, drink in the right places and beat the post-match crush.
"Wembley Park isn't just about the stadium, it's packed with food, bars, shops and experiences that make it easy to turn a matchday into a full day out."
Tickets for the Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Finals
Tickets for all three Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Finals are allocated exclusively by the competing clubs once the finalists are confirmed after the second leg of the semi-finals. They are not sold directly by Wembley Stadium or through this website. To purchase tickets, visit the official website of the club you support once your team is through.
Be cautious of secondary market sellers. Always check the face value printed on your ticket, resale prices can be significantly inflated. If you're travelling to Wembley Park on Final weekend without a ticket, many venues will be screening the matches. Check our What's On listings for screenings across Wembley Park.
Matchday date, kick-off and entry times
The Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Finals take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend in 2026. Kick-off times are confirmed by the EFL closer to the dates. Entry times and the full Supporters Guide will be published on the Wembley Stadium website in the weeks leading up to each fixture. Bookmark this page and check back closer to the date.
Recommended matchday timeline
- From 11am: Wembley Park restaurants, bars and BOXPARK open. Arrive early, Olympic Way fills fast on Final day.
- Stadium gates and kick-off timings follow the traditional pattern of mid-afternoon Saturday (Championship, 23 May), early afternoon Sunday (League One, 24 May) and Monday (League Two, 25 May, Bank Holiday). Official confirmation will be provided by the EFL closer to each fixture.
- Post-match: Stay at Wembley Park, bars and restaurants open late. Let the crowds clear before heading to the tube.
Stadium essentials for the Play-Off Finals
Wembley Stadium has a few key policies in place to keep matchday safe and running smoothly. Check the official Wembley links on the day of the fixture for any last-minute updates.
Bag policy
Wembley operates a strict restricted bag policy. Bags must be no larger than A4 size and anything bigger will be turned away at the external bag checks. If you need to bring a larger bag or medical items, you must apply for a medical exemption in advance via the official Wembley help centre.
Cashless stadium
Wembley Stadium is fully cashless. All food kiosks, bars and merchandise stands accept debit and credit cards or mobile payments (Apple Pay or Google Pay) only. Make sure you have at least one working card or phone wallet set up before you arrive.
Age and entry rules
No children under 2 are permitted inside the stadium. Always check the official Wembley Event Guide for the most up-to-date age, entry and prohibited items information before you travel.
Play-Off Finals: Wembley Stadium Seating Plan
Wembley Stadium holds 90,000 across three tiers: Lower, Club (Level 2) and Upper, wrapping the full bowl. Tickets for all three Play-Off Finals are allocated by the competing clubs, so seat categories and pricing will be confirmed by each club once the finalists are announced.
The Lower tier wraps closest to the pitch and offers the most immersive atmosphere. The Upper tier gives a full elevated view of the entire bowl. Use the View From My Seat tool on the official club ticketing page to check the sightlines from your specific block before buying. Please follow the official Wembley Event Guide for age and accompaniment policies. No children under 2 are permitted inside the stadium.
Getting here
The fastest and easiest route is by tube. Wembley Park station (Metropolitan and Jubilee lines) is a ten-minute flat walk along Olympic Way directly to the stadium gates. On matchday, trains run every 3 to 4 minutes from central London. Baker Street takes 12 minutes. King's Cross takes around 20 minutes.
Wembley Stadium station (Chiltern Railways, 9 minutes from Marylebone) is another option. We strongly recommend public transport on matchday, roads around the stadium are heavily managed on event days.
-
Which tube line goes to Wembley Stadium for the EFL Play-Off Finals?
The best tube options are the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines to Wembley Park station (Zone 4), a 10-minute walk along Olympic Way. Baker Street takes 12 minutes, King's Cross around 20 minutes. The Bakerloo line to Wembley Central is a good alternative to avoid post-match crowds, it's a 22-minute walk to the stadium via High Road and White Horse Bridge.
2026 fares (Contactless or Oyster): Zone 1 to Wembley £4.80 peak, £3.60 off-peak. Zone 2 to Wembley £3.60 peak, £3.10 off-peak. The Play-Off Finals fall over a Bank Holiday weekend, weekend off-peak rates apply all day.
After each match, expect a 15 to 60 minute wait to enter Wembley Park station. Check the TfL Journey Planner on the day for real-time updates.
-
Where can I park near Wembley Stadium for the Play-Off Finals?
Wembley Park offers over 3,000 secure parking spaces. Pre-booking is mandatory for fixtures of this scale. Red Parking is the most convenient, a short walk from the stadium entrance. Pink Parking is the main hub for cars and coaches, roughly a 10-minute walk. Blue Badge spaces are available in all car parks but must be booked early. Pre-booked parking is £40 flat rate on event days. Always book via Wembley Official Parking, unofficial pop-up car parks are not insured. Sat nav: HA9 0FA.
-
How do I get to Wembley Stadium by bus?
Key routes 83, 182, 206, 223, 297 and N83 stop within a 5-minute walk of the stadium. Flat fare £1.75 using contactless, mobile wallet or Oyster. The Hopper fare allows unlimited bus transfers within one hour of your first touch-in. Buses are cashless. Use the TfL Go app for real-time arrivals on matchday.
-
How do I get to Wembley Stadium by coach?
National Express (official coach supplier) runs services from over 50 UK locations directly to the gates. Big Green Coach runs carbon-neutral services from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds. Megabus offers low-cost travel into London Victoria Coach Station, then Victoria line to Oxford Circus, change to Bakerloo for Wembley Central. All coaches drop off at the official coach park at Pink Parking.
-
Can I cycle to Wembley Stadium?
Yes. Dedicated bicycle parking is at street level on the northeast side of the stadium. Wembley Park's Active Travel Team has downloadable cycle route maps covering shared pedestrian routes, designated cycle lanes and parking. Bring a strong lock and allow extra time. Be cautious leaving after the match due to heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Where to eat and drink before the Play-Off Finals
Wembley Park has over 50 places to eat and drink within a max 5-minute walk of the stadium, all open from 11am on matchday. Whether you want a sit-down meal, street food on the go or a pre-match pint, the neighbourhood has it covered.
From Michelin-starred Indian at Masalchi to fresh pasta at Remoli, world-famous doughnuts at Bread Ahead and over 20 street food traders at BOXPARK Wembley, there is something for every appetite and every budget.
BOXPARK Wembley
BOXPARK Wembley brings the matchday atmosphere with three bars and over 20 street food traders. Across two floors you'll find live music, screens, and plenty of space to soak up the buzz before kick-off or relax afterwards. The kitchens stay open late, so you can eat, drink, and let the Olympic Way crowds clear before heading to the tube.
Where to drink before and after the Play-Off Finals
Note that street drinking on the Wembley Park estate itself is not permitted, so head to one of the dedicated venues below.
Feed The Yak on Olympic Way is a craft beer taproom and sports bar with 20 beer lines serving the largest selection of draught beer in north-west London, right at the foot of the stadium, open before and after the match. The White Horse in Arena Square is a Fuller's pub with a terrace overlooking OVO Arena Wembley Park, offering cocktails, craft beer and food until late on matchday. BOXPARK Wembley is the fan park hub with three bars across two floors, and for cocktails with arch views, Sky Bar 9 at the Hilton Wembley is one of the highest viewpoints in the neighbourhood.
Shopping near Wembley Stadium at London Designer Outlet
London Designer Outlet has more than 70 outlet stores including Nike, Calvin Klein, Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger and Boss, all at up to 70% off RRP, five minutes' walk from the stadium gates. Open until 9pm on Final days.
For footwear, Skechers, Converse, Kurt Geiger and Dune London all have outlet stores at LDO. For sportswear, Adidas, Nike, New Balance and The North Face are all represented.
#YouCouldLiveHere
Love what you see today? Wembley Park is one of London's most exciting places to live, modern apartments, great transport links and everything on your doorstep. Find out more at Quintain Living.
Can't show embedded content, please update your cookie settings
Unlock more with One Wembley Park
Shopping in Wembley Park has just got a whole lot better with our brand-new rewards club and app, One Wembley Park. Unlock exclusive offers, incredible discounts, early sale access and exclusive VIP events. With every penny you spend, you'll earn points and earn even more rewards. What are you waiting for? Start saving by filling in the form below to sign up to One Wembley Park.