CFL revamps its calendar for 2027, with early season start and new playoff format
The Canadian Football League (CFL) will start its 2027 season earlier than ever, kicking off on Victoria Day weekend in May. The league is also introducing a new playoff format that allows eight of the nine teams to compete, increasing the number of playoff rounds from two to three. These changes aim to enhance fan engagement and provide more opportunities for teams to compete for the Grey Cup.
- ▪The CFL's regular season will begin on Victoria Day weekend in May 2027, marking its earliest start.
- ▪The new playoff format will include eight teams, with three rounds leading up to the Grey Cup game.
- ▪Teams outside the top two divisional finishers will be seeded from No. 5 to No. 9, with the final seed not qualifying for the postseason.
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Open this photo in gallery:The Canadian Football League logo is seen on a football on opening day of CFL training camp in Guelph, Ont., in May, 2025.Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian PressShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountThe CFL will kick off its season earlier and revamp its playoff format in 2027.Next year, the CFL’s regular season will kick off the Victoria Day weekend in May, its earliest start ever. The ’26 campaign opens June 4 with the Montreal Alouettes visiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.“All summer long, the CFL will be front and centre – exactly where it belongs,“ commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement.
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