UEFA will advance the kickoff of the men’s Champions League final by three hours to 6 p.m. Central European Time (noon Eastern) starting with the 2026 showpiece in Budapest. The governing body confirmed that the earlier start will apply to the final at the 67,000-seat Puskás Arena on 30 May 2026, replacing the long-standing 9 p.m. slot. Explaining the move, UEFA said an earlier finish would make it easier for families and children to attend or watch on television, improve access to public transport and allow supporters and host cities more time to celebrate after the match. “With this change, we are placing the fans’ experience at the heart of our planning,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said, adding that the new slot also opens a more convenient broadcasting window for Asian markets. The timing decision was announced on the same day as the draw for the second season of the competition’s 36-team league format. The 2025-26 campaign will open 16-18 September, with headline fixtures including Real Madrid facing Manchester City and defending champion Paris Saint-Germain meeting Bayern Munich. The league phase concludes on 28 January 2026, and the final—now set for early evening—remains a single-match decider.