The energy around European football is different this year. Maybe it’s the new league phase or just the fact that big clubs are actually sweating for their lives in January. If you're wondering when is the champions league draw for round of 16, the short answer is that UEFA has locked in Friday, February 27, 2026 for the big ceremony at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The event usually kicks off at 12:00 CET. That's midday in Central Europe, so if you're tuning in from the UK, it’s 11:00 AM. East Coasters in the US will need to be up by 6:00 AM. It’s a bit of a wait, honestly. We have to get through the final league matches in late January and the new "knockout phase play-offs" in February first.
When is the champions league draw for round of 16 and how does it work now?
Forget everything you remember about the old December draws. Seriously. Since UEFA revamped the format for this 2025/26 season, the calendar has shifted. In the past, we’d have the Round of 16 matchups settled before Christmas. Now? We’re playing league games deep into January.
The "League Phase" doesn't even finish until January 28, 2026. Only then do we find out the top eight teams that get an automatic pass to the Round of 16. The teams finishing 9th through 24th have to play an extra "play-off" round in mid-February. Because of that extra step, the final Round of 16 draw can’t happen until those play-offs are finished.
🔗 Read more: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
The Key Dates You Need to Know
- January 30, 2026: This is the other draw. It's for the knockout play-offs (teams ranked 9-24).
- February 17–25, 2026: The play-offs happen. Eight survivors emerge.
- February 27, 2026: The main event. This is when is the champions league draw for round of 16 takes place, along with the mapping for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
By the time the balls are rolling in Nyon on the 27th, we'll have our final 16 teams. The top 8 "seeds" from the league phase will be paired against the 8 winners of the play-off round.
The Bracket Revolution
One thing that’s kinda cool—or annoying, depending on who you ask—is that this draw is a bit more "tennis-style" now. UEFA is using a fixed bracket. Basically, the teams that finished 1st and 2nd in the league phase are placed on opposite sides of the bracket. They literally cannot meet until the final in Budapest.
This means the February 27 draw isn't just about the Round of 16. It’s the moment the entire road to the final is mapped out. You'll know exactly which giants are on a collision course for the semi-finals before a single Round of 16 ball is even kicked.
💡 You might also like: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Speaking of the actual games, the Round of 16 first legs are scheduled for March 10 and 11, with the remaining fixtures on March 17 and 18. The return legs follow quickly after. It’s a frantic month.
Who's looking safe?
As of mid-January 2026, the table is a bit of a mess. Arsenal and Bayern Munich have looked incredibly strong, hovering near the top. Manchester City and PSG are also safe bets for a top-eight finish, which is massive. Why? Because finishing in that top eight means you skip the February play-offs entirely.
Teams like Liverpool or Borussia Dortmund, who might be sitting in that 9th to 12th range, are in a tricky spot. They’ll likely have to play two extra high-intensity games in February just to reach the draw on the 27th. It's a huge physical tax on the squad.
📖 Related: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
How to watch it
If you’re a purist who loves watching retired legends struggle to open plastic balls, UEFA usually streams the whole thing for free on UEFA.com.
In the UK, TNT Sports handles it. For fans in the US, Paramount+ or the CBS Sports Golazo Network is your best bet. It’s usually a lot of fluff and highlight reels for 20 minutes followed by five minutes of actual drawing. But hey, that's the Champions League for you.
Actionable Next Steps
To stay ahead of the curve as the knockout stage approaches, you should keep an eye on the final league standings after Matchday 8 on January 28. This will dictate who gets that crucial "seeded" status. Once the play-offs conclude on February 25, clear your schedule for the morning of February 27 to see the full bracket reveal.
Monitoring squad rotations during the February play-off window is also smart if you're into sports betting or fantasy leagues, as those extra two games often lead to injuries for teams like Liverpool or Barcelona that might find themselves outside the top eight.