The 2026–27 UEFA Europa League marks the 56th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament and the 18th under its current name, with 76 teams from at least 40 UEFA associations competing. Notably, reigning champions Aston Villa cannot defend their title because they've automatically qualified for the Champions League, and the new format prevents clubs from dropping down into the Europa League from the league phase onward. Due to Russia's ongoing suspension and Aston Villa's qualification, cup winners from Denmark, Switzerland, Israel, Cyprus, and Sweden receive direct entry into the second qualifying round instead of the first. Uniquely, two non-top-division clubs—Torreense (Portugal) and Vestri (Iceland)—will participate, showcasing the tournament's broad reach. The qualifying rounds kick off in June 2026, with the first qualifying round draw on 16 June and first legs played on 9 July, followed by the second qualifying round draw on 17 June and matches on 23 and 30 July. Losers from these rounds will be transferred to the UEFA Conference League, maintaining the interconnected structure of European club competitions.