Playoffs in the EFL Championship will expand to include six teams, rather than four, from the 2026-27 season.
EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, said: "Since their introduction in 1986/87, the Play-Offs have become a highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special.
"Following several months of discussion with Clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more Clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion."
The EFL said this change "is intended to increase the number of competitive fixtures during the closing stages of the campaign, while also giving two additional Clubs the opportunity to reach the Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium and progress to the Premier League."
A four-team playoff system will continue to be used in League One and Two. Since 1989-90, two-leg semifinals have preceded a one-off playoff final.
The Championship playoff final at Wembley has become known as the richest game in football due to the stakes of progressing into the Premier League.
Last year, Sunderland finished fourth in the Championship but got promoted via the playoffs.
In the National League, a six-team playoff is already in use.
How the EFL Championship playoffs will work from 2026-27
The playoffs in the Championship will consist of seven fixtures.
The two winners of the eliminator ties will progress to the semi-finals (against the teams finishing third and fourth in the table).
These games will be played over two legs. The two winning semi-finalists will meet in the Championship Play-Off final.
The exact final format will be agreed later in 2026.
