The 2026 Community Shield is set to take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for the first time in two decades, due to a scheduling conflict with The Weeknd’s concert tour at Wembley. The match, featuring Arsenal against Manchester City, traditionally occurs at Wembley but is relocated this year because the stadium is unavailable on Sunday, 16 August.

The Football Association announced that the iconic venue will host five concert dates from 14 to 19 August, leading to the change. This marks a return to Principality Stadium, which hosted the Community Shield six times between 2001 and 2006 while Wembley underwent construction.

Gavin Marshall, the Welsh Rugby Union's chief financial and operating officer, expressed excitement about the event returning:

We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming the FA Community Shield back to Principality Stadium. This fixture has a special place in the stadium's history, and to be hosting it again for the first time in 20 years is a tremendously proud moment for everyone here.

The 74,500-capacity stadium is known for hosting world-class events and promises an unforgettable atmosphere for fans of both clubs. Historically, Liverpool and Arsenal each won two titles during the match's previous six-year stint in Cardiff, with Manchester United and Chelsea also claiming victory in 2003 and 2005, respectively.

Since its return to Wembley in 2007, the Community Shield has been moved twice: to Villa Park in 2012 for the Olympics and to King Power Stadium in 2022 due to the Women’s European Championship final.

The upcoming match serves as a curtain-raiser for the Premier League season, which begins on Friday, 21 August, with Mikel Arteta’s defending champions hosting newly-promoted Coventry.