THE countdown is on as the top-flight of female football returns on Friday 1st May.
Reigning champions Glentoran (above) took last season’s title, winning 16 of their 17 matches, losing just one, to see off close rivals Cliftonville by five points.
Kim Turner’s side will be the defence of their trophy at home to Lisburn Rangers on Friday 1 May, while runners-up Cliftonville host Lisburn Ladies on the same night.
Elsewhere, Derry City Women travel to face Linfield Women, while Larne Women are home to Crusaders Strikers.
Last season’s top two meet for the first time in the league in the second week of June, before the return fixture on the penultimate weekend of the regular season before the league splits into the top four and bottom four.
The 2025 campaign saw total attendance across all matches reach 11,000, marking a 58% increase in overall matchday attendance since the 2021 season.
As the Women’s game continues to grow year on year, last season Women’s League Cup Final between Cliftonville Ladies and Glentoran Women attracted a record‑breaking 1,189 supporters to Blanchflower Stadium.
This is the highest attendance ever recorded for a women’s match in NIFL history. The league title decider between the same two clubs drew 911 spectators.
That set a new all‑time record for a Women’s Premiership fixture and was the largest league crowd of the season.
Beyond the stadium, the league’s digital reach hit new heights.
Across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, content from the Women’s Premiership amassed over 21 million video views.
More than 4,500 new followers were gained during the season, while total post reactions surpassed 212,000.
These numbers underline both the influence of the league and the passion surrounding the women’s game in Northern Ireland.
Before the Sports Direct Premiership action begins, the Women’s season gets underway with the Boyle Sports Women’s Cup on Sunday 12 April. Fans can once again follow all the action, goals and drama on all NI Football League’s digital channels throughout the season!
Sports Direct Women’s Premiership Fixtures 2026
Friday 1 May
Cliftonville Ladies v Lisburn Ladies
Glentoran Women v Lisburn Rangers
Linfield Women v Derry City Women
Larne Women v Crusaders Strikers
Friday 8 May
Crusaders Strikers v Derry City Women
Lisburn Ladies v Larne Women
Friday 15 May
Glentoran Women v Lisburn Ladies
Lisburn Rangers v Derry City Women
Crusaders Strikers v Cliftonville Ladies
Larne Women v Linfield Women
Friday 22 May
Cliftonville Ladies v Linfield Women
Glentoran Women v Larne Women
Lisburn Rangers v Crusaders Strikers
Lisburn Ladies v Derry City Women
Friday 29 May
Larne Women v Derry City Women
Lisburn Ladies v Crusaders Strikers
Friday 12 June
Cliftonville Ladies v Glentoran Women
Linfield Women v Lisburn Rangers
Friday 19 June
Cliftonville Ladies v Derry City Women
Linfield Women v Lisburn Ladies
Crusaders Strikers v Glentoran Women
Larne Women v Lisburn Rangers
Friday 26 June
Cliftonville Ladies v Larne Women
Glentoran Women v Derry City Women
Crusaders Strikers v Linfield Women
Lisburn Ladies v Lisburn Rangers
Friday 31 July
Linfield Women v Cliftonville Ladies
Lisburn Rangers v Glentoran Women
Derry City Women v Crusaders Strikers
Larne Women v Lisburn Ladies
Friday 10 July
Linfield Women v Glentoran Women
Lisburn Rangers v Cliftonville Ladies
Friday 24 July
Glentoran Women v Linfield Women
Crusaders Strikers v Lisburn Rangers
Derry City Women v Larne Women
Lisburn Ladies v Cliftonville Ladies
Friday 31 July
Cliftonville Ladies v Crusaders Strikers
Linfield Women v Larne Women
Lisburn Rangers v Lisburn Ladies
Derry City Women v Glentoran Women
Friday 7 August
Glentoran Women v Crusaders Strikers
Derry City Women v Lisburn Rangers
Larne Women v Cliftonville Ladies
Lisburn Ladies v Linfield Women
Friday 14 August
Cliftonville Ladies v Lisburn Rangers
Crusaders Strikers v Lisburn Ladies
Derry City Women v Linfield Women
Larne Women v Glentoran Women
Friday 28 August
Glentoran Women v Cliftonville Ladies
Linfield Women v Crusaders Strikers
Lisburn Rangers v Larne Women
Derry City Women v Lisburn Ladies
Friday 4 September
Lisburn Rangers v Linfield Women
Crusaders Strikers v Larne Women
Derry City Women v Cliftonville Ladies
Lisburn Ladies v Glentoran Women
