What to know about the 2026 Champions League final
Referee Danny Makkelie holds the match ball during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Credit: AP/Jose Breton
Titleholder Paris Saint-Germain will take on Arsenal in the 2026 Champions League final.
PSG eliminated Bayern Munich in the semifinals following a 1-1 draw on Wednesday to book its place in the showpiece event at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on May 30.
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé fired PSG ahead in the third minute following a swift counterattack led by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Harry Kane equalized for Bayern in stoppage time but PSG advanced 6-5 on aggregate after winning a pulsating first leg 5-4.
Arsenal overcame Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate in its semifinal.
Here's what to know about the Champions League final.
Time of kickoff
Kickoff time on May 30 has been brought forward to 1700 GMT, having traditionally been played at 2000 GMT. Governing body UEFA said the decision for an earlier kickoff was to enhance the matchday experience for fans and to optimize logistics such as public transport in Budapest.
The Killers are pre-match headliners
American rock band The Killers will be performing on the night. In recent years, Linkin Park and Lenny Kravitz have headlined.
Arsenal supporters celebrate at the the end of a Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid in London, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Credit: AP/Alastair Grant
About the finalists
Arsenal is in the final for the first time since 2006. It is only its second time in the final and it has never won European club soccer's top competition, having lost to Barcelona 20 years ago. Mikel Arteta's team was beaten in last year's semifinals by PSG, which beat Inter Milan 5-0 in the final to lift the trophy for the first time.
Since the tournament was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992-93, only Real Madrid has retained the title, winning three times in succession from 2016-18. PSG lost the 2020 final to Bayern.
About the Puskas Arena
The 67,000-seat stadium was opened in 2019 and built on the same site as the previous Ferenc Puskas Stadion — named after the Hungarian and Real Madrid icon, who won three European Cups as a player.
Recent winners
2025 PSG
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in London, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Credit: AP/John Walton
2024 Real Madrid
2023 Manchester City
2022 Real Madrid
2021 Chelsea
Most Champions League/European Cup wins
15 Real Madrid
7 AC Milan
6 Bayern Munich, Liverpool
5 Barcelona
4 Ajax
3 Manchester United, Inter Milan
The 2027 final is set for Madrid
The 2027 final will be staged at Atletico Madrid's stadium the Estadio Metropolitano. It is the second time it has held the final, having staged the 2019 showdown between Liverpool and Tottenham. The city of Madrid has hosted the final on five previous occasions.
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