Premier League (Wales) 2026/27

The Cymru Premier operates as the top tier of the Welsh football league system, sitting above the Cymru North and Cymru South. It was established in 1992 to replace a structure where Welsh clubs competed in English leagues. The league underwent several rebrandings, changing from the League of Wales to the Welsh Premier League before adopting its current name in 2019 to reflect national identity.

The competition features a distinctive format that separates it from neighbouring systems. The season begins with a double round-robin phase involving 22 matches. Teams then split into a Championship Conference and a Play-Off Conference based on their standing. In the second phase, clubs play each other in their respective groups twice more for a total of 32 games. The champion is determined strictly by points in the Championship Conference, with no knockout play-offs involved.

A unique characteristic is the presence of clubs based in England, such as The New Saints, due to geographical proximity. Unlike teams in the English pyramid, Welsh clubs in this league cannot be promoted to the English National League. They compete in the Welsh Cup and UEFA competitions via the Football Association of Wales. Since 1992, they are no longer eligible for the FA Cup, a right retained only by a small number of Welsh clubs playing in England.

For the current 2026 season, the league consists of six clubs: Airbus UK, Ammanford AFC, Barry Town, Briton Ferry, Caernarfon Town, and Cambrian & Clydach. Relegation sees the bottom two teams in the Play-Off Conference drop to Tier 2 based on geography. The league is scheduled to expand to 16 teams for the 2026–27 season. The New Saints F.C. remains the most successful club, holding 18 titles including the recent 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons.