The draws for the 2025/26 Malta Premier Opening Round league phase will be held on Monday at 19:00, live on TVMSport+.
The teams taking part this season are Birkirkara, Floriana, Gzira United, Hamrun Spartans, Hibernians, Marasxlokk, Mosta, Naxxar Lions, Sliema Wanderers, Zabbar St. Patrick and newly-promoted Valletta and Tarxien Rainbows.
The format will be the same as last season with the league being played on two rounds – the Opening Round and the Closing Round. Both rounds shall be played on a round-robin basis of one round of fixtures involving all the twelve Premier League clubs and at the end of each round the clubs shall be divided into two sections – Top 6 and Bottom 6.
Opening Round
The Opening Round of the Premier League shall consist of eleven match days on a single round-robin basis between the twelve Premier League teams. At the end of these matches, the top six teams will play in the Top 6 and the remaining six in the Bottom 6.
The teams in each of these groups shall then play five matches each on a single round-robin basis. Teams shall carry over the number of points obtained during the round-robin phase.
Closing Round
The Closing Round shall commence immediately after the closure of the Opening Round and all teams participating shall commence this round afresh at zero points.
The Closing Round of the Premier League shall consist of eleven match days on a single round-robin basis between the twelve Premier League teams. At the end of these matches, the top six teams will play in the Top 6 and the remaining six in the Bottom 6.
The teams in each of these groups shall then play five matches each on a single round-robin basis. Teams shall carry over the number of points obtained during the round-robin phase.
Championship
If the same team wins both the Opening Round and Closing Round, that team will be declared Champion.
If the same two teams end first or second in both the Opening Round and Closing Round, a play-off would determine the Championship but if there are at least three different teams who finish either first or second in the Opening and Closing Rounds, the Final Four would determine the Championship.
Relegation
If the same two teams finish in the bottom two places in both the Opening Round and Closing Round, the two teams will be relegated.
If only one team finishes in the bottom two places in both the Opening Round and Closing Round, then that team will be relegated and a relegation decider between the other two teams who finish in the bottom two places would determine the other team to be relegated.
In case four different teams finish in the bottom two places in the Opening Round and Closing Round, then two deciders are played and the losers are relegated.