2026–27 Serie B
Football league season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026–27 Serie B (known as the Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons) will be the 95th season of the second tier of Italian football, Serie B, since its establishment in 1929. The season will commence on 21 August 2026 and will end on 16 May 2027.
Season2026–27
Dates21 August 2026 – 14 May 2027
Matches50
Goals132 (2.64 per match)
| Season | 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 August 2026 – 14 May 2027 |
| Matches | 50 |
| Goals | 132 (2.64 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Cristian Shpendi (6 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Hellas Verona 5–0 Arezzo (6 September 2026) |
| Biggest away win | Cremonese 0–3 Modena (28 August 2026) Juve Stabia 0–3 Pisa (6 September 2026) Pisa 1–4 Virtus Entella (11 September 2026) Arezzo 1–4 Südtirol (20 September 2026) |
| Highest scoring | Vicenza 3–2 Catanzaro (21 August 2026) Arezzo 3–2 Palermo (30 August 2026) Hellas Verona 5–0 Arezzo (6 September 2026) Pisa 1–4 Virtus Entella (11 September 2026) Arezzo 1–4 Südtirol (20 September 2026) |
| Longest winning run | Palermo (3 games) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Cesena Mantova Palermo Südtirol (5 games) |
| Longest winless run | Carrarese (5 games) |
| Longest losing run | Carrarese Catanzaro Sampdoria (3 games) |
| Highest attendance | 33,009 Palermo 3–1 Sampdoria (7 September 2026) |
| Lowest attendance | 2,218 Virtus Entella 1–2 Cesena (29 August 2026) |
← 2025–26 2027–28 →
All statistics correct as of 20 September 2026. | |
Teams
Team changes
The following teams have changed divisions since the 2025–26 season:
To Serie BRelegated from Serie A Promoted from Serie C
|
From Serie BPromoted to Serie A Relegated to Serie C
|
Pisa, Hellas Verona and Cremonese return to Serie B after one, seven and one years respectively.
Vicenza, Arezzo, Benevento and Ascoli return to Serie B after four, nineteen, three and two years respectively.
Venezia, Frosinone and Monza return to Serie A after one, two and one years respectively.
Pescara, Spezia, Reggiana and Bari return to Serie C after one, fourteen, three and four years respectively.
Fifteen clubs are former Serie A members, while five teams are seeking their first promotion ever.
Number of teams by regions
No. of teams |
Region | Team(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 |  Tuscany | Arezzo, Carrarese, Empoli and Pisa |
| 3 |  Campania | Avellino, Benevento and Juve Stabia |
 Veneto | Padova, Hellas Verona and Vicenza | |
| 2 |  Emilia-Romagna | Cesena and Modena |
 Liguria | Sampdoria and Virtus Entella | |
 Lombardy | Cremonese and Mantova | |
| 1 |  Calabria | Catanzaro |
 Marche | Ascoli | |
 Sicily | Palermo | |
 Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol | Südtirol |
Stadiums and locations
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arezzo | Arezzo | Stadio Città di Arezzo | 13,128 |
| Ascoli | Ascoli Piceno | Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca | 12,461 |
| Avellino | Avellino | Stadio Partenio-Adriano Lombardi | 26,000 |
| Benevento | Benevento | Stadio Ciro Vigorito | 16,867 |
| Carrarese | Carrara | Stadio dei Marmi | 4,194 |
| Catanzaro | Catanzaro | Stadio Nicola Ceravolo | 14,650 |
| Cesena | Cesena | Stadio Dino Manuzzi | 20,194 |
| Cremonese | Cremona | Stadio Giovanni Zini | 20,641 |
| Empoli | Empoli | Stadio Carlo Castellani | 16,284 |
| Hellas Verona | Verona | Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi | 39,211 |
| Juve Stabia | Castellammare di Stabia | Stadio Comunale Romeo Menti | 7,642 |
| Mantova | Mantua | Stadio Danilo Martelli | 14,884 |
| Modena | Modena | Stadio Alberto Braglia | 21,151 |
| Padova | Padua | Stadio Comunale Euganeo | 32,420 |
| Palermo | Palermo | Stadio Renzo Barbera | 36,365 |
| Pisa | Pisa | Arena Garibaldi | 12,508 |
| Sampdoria | Genoa | Stadio Luigi Ferraris | 33,205 |
| Südtirol | Bolzano | Stadio Marco Druso | 5,539 |
| Vicenza | Vicenza | Stadio Romeo Menti | 12,000 |
| Virtus Entella | Chiavari | Stadio Comunale | 5,535 |
Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main | Other(s) | ||||
| Arezzo |  Cristian Bucchi |
Marco Chiosa |
Rever | UnoAErre | List
|
| Ascoli | Francesco Tomei |
 Marcos Curado |
Hummel | Fainplast | List
|
| Avellino | Alessandro Nesta |
Luca Palmiero |
Magma | Provincia di Avellino | List
|
| Benevento | Antonio Floro Flores |
Mattia Maita |
Nike | IVPC | List
|
| Carrarese | Gabriele Cioffi |
Marco Imperiale |
Givova | Sagevan | List
|
| Catanzaro | Giorgio Gorgone |
Pietro Iemmello |
EYE Sport | Coop | List
|
| Cesena | Alessandro Diamanti |
Andrea Ciofi |
Macron | Amadori | List
|
| Cremonese | Fabio Pecchia |
Matteo Bianchetti |
Acerbis | Ilta Inox (Home) / Arinox (Away) | List
|
| Empoli | Guido Pagliuca |
Luca Magnino |
Kappa | Computer Gross | List
|
| Hellas Verona | Marco Baroni |
 Andrias Edmundsson |
Joma | Aircash | List
|
| Juve Stabia | Pietro De Giorgio |
Leonardo Candellone |
Adidas | Guerri Energia | List
|
| Mantova | Francesco Modesto |
Simone Trimboli |
Adidas | Sinergy Luce e Gas | List
|
| Modena | Daniele Galloppa |
Leandro Chichizola |
New Balance | Kerakoll | List
|
| Padova | Antonio Calabro |
Matteo Lovato |
Macron | Acciaierie Venete | List
|
| Palermo | Filippo Inzaghi |
Mattia Bani |
Puma | Sicily by Car | List
|
| Pisa | Paolo Bianco |
Antonio Caracciolo |
Adidas | Cetilar | List
|
| Sampdoria | Bernardo Corradi |
Alex Ferrari |
Macron | illimity Banca Ifis | List
|
| Südtirol | Davide Possanzini |
Fabian Tait |
Erreà | Südtirol | List
|
| Vicenza | Fabio Gallo |
Filippo Costa |
Hummel | Diesel | List
|
| Virtus Entella | Andrea Chiappella |
Luca Parodi |
Adidas | Duferco Energia | List
|
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sampdoria | Attilio Lombardo |
End of caretaker spell | 10 May 2026 | Pre-season | Bernardo Corradi |
25 June 2026[1] |
| Avellino | Davide Ballardini |
End of contract | 16 May 2026[2] | Alessandro Nesta |
1 July 2026[3] | |
| Modena | Andrea Sottil |
Sacked | 22 May 2026[4] | Daniele Galloppa |
13 June 2026[5] | |
| Hellas Verona | Paolo Sammarco |
End of interim spell | 24 May 2026 | Marco Baroni |
19 June 2026[6] | |
| Pisa |  Oscar Hiljemark |
Sacked | 8 June 2026[7] | Paolo Bianco |
22 June 2026[8] | |
| Carrarese | Antonio Calabro |
Mutual consent | 9 June 2026[9] | Gabriele Cioffi |
15 June 2026[10] | |
| Catanzaro | Alberto Aquilani |
11 June 2026[11] | Giorgio Gorgone |
11 July 2026[12] | ||
| Padova | Roberto Breda |
End of contract | 11 June 2026[13] | Antonio Calabro |
13 June 2026[14] | |
| Juve Stabia | Ignazio Abate |
Mutual consent | 12 June 2026[15] | Pietro De Giorgio |
3 July 2026[16] | |
| Südtirol | Fabrizio Castori |
Sacked | 23 June 2026[17] | Davide Possanzini |
24 June 2026[18] | |
| Cesena |  Ashley Cole |
End of contract | 30 June 2026[19] | Alessandro Diamanti |
1 July 2026[19] | |
| Empoli | Fabio Caserta |
30 June 2026 | Guido Pagliuca |
6 July 2026[20] | ||
| Cremonese | Marco Giampaolo |
Sacked | 1 September 2026[21] | 20th | Fabio Pecchia |
2 September 2026[22] |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palermo | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 | Promotion to Serie A |
| 2 | Südtirol | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 8 | |
| 3 | Modena | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs semi-finals |
| 4 | Mantova | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | |
| 5 | Ascoli | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 7 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs quarter-finals |
| 6 | Padova | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | |
| 7 | Avellino | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 | |
| 8 | Pisa | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 9 | Empoli | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 6 | |
| 10 | Arezzo | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 6 | |
| 11 | Cesena | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 5 | |
| 12 | Vicenza | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 5 | |
| 13 | Hellas Verona | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 4 | |
| 14 | Virtus Entella | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 4 | |
| 15 | Benevento | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | |
| 16 | Cremonese | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 | Qualification for the relegation play-out |
| 17 | Catanzaro | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 3 | |
| 18 | Juve Stabia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 2[a] | Relegation to Serie C |
| 19 | Sampdoria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 1 | |
| 20 | Carrarese | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 |
First match(es) will be played: 12 September 2026. Source: Serie B
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Draw.
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Draw.
Notes:
Results
Promotion play-offs
Format
- Preliminary round: the higher-placed team played at home. If teams are tied after regular time, extra-time was played. If scores are still level, the higher-placed team advanced;
- Semi-finals: the higher-placed team played at home for the second leg. If teams were tied on aggregate, the higher-placed team advanced;
- Final: the higher-placed team played at home for the second leg. If teams were tied on aggregate, the higher-placed team was promoted to Serie A, unless the teams finished tied on points after the regular season, in which case the winner was decided by extra time and a penalty shoot-out if necessary.
| Preliminary round | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| Lowest-seeded eliminators winner | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | TBC | 4 | TBC | |||||||||||||||
| 8 | TBC | Winner of semi-final 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Winner of semi-final 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Highest-seeded eliminators winner | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | TBC | 3 | TBC | |||||||||||||||
| 7 | TBC | |||||||||||||||||
Relegation play-out
Format
The relegation play-offs (play-out in Italian) were contested over two legs between the teams finishing 16th and 17th in the regular season. The higher-placed team hosted the second leg.
If the teams were level on aggregate score, the lower-placed team in the regular season standings was relegated to Serie C. However, if the two teams finished tied on points in the regular season, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out were used to determine the winner.
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBC | TBC |
Season statistics
- As of matches played 20 Septtember 2026
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[24] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cristian Shpendi |
Cesena | 6 |
| 2 | Francesco Ruocco |
Mantova | 4 |
| 3 | Federico Bonazzoli |
Cremonese | 3 |
| Antonio Di Nardo |
Juve Stabia | ||
 Dennis Johnsen |
Palermo | ||
| Raffaele Russo |
Avellino | ||
| Andrea Silipo |
Ascoli | ||
| 8 | Sixteen players | 2 | |
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets[25] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommaso Martinelli |
Avellino | 2 |
| Alessandro Plizzari |
Südtirol | ||
| Jacopo Seghetti |
Empoli | ||
| Alessandro Sorrentino |
Padova | ||
| 4 | Eleven players | 1 | |
Discipline
Player
- Most yellow cards: 3[24]
- Ten players
- Most red cards: 1[24]
Oliver Abildgaard (Sampdoria)
Lorenzo Carissoni (Padova)
Joseph Ceesay (Empoli)- Marco Curto (Empoli)
Antonio David (Cesena)
Julián Illanes (Carrarese)
Mehdi Léris (Pisa)- Antonio Prisco (Benevento)
- Giacomo Stabile (Südtirol)
