Rangers will open the 2026/27 Scottish Premiership season away to Dundee United on Friday 31 July.
The fixture gives Derek McInnes an immediate Friday-night stage for his first league campaign in charge, with the trip to Tannadice set for an 8pm kick-off.
Rangers will then face three confirmed Old Firm dates against Celtic before the split.
Celtic host Rangers at Celtic Park on 20 September, before Ibrox stages the New Year meeting on 2 January. Celtic Park will then host the third derby on 27 February.
McInnes Gets Early Rangers Pressure Point
The opening assignment matters because Rangers cannot afford a slow start under McInnes.
A televised away game at Dundee United is awkward enough. The first Old Firm date then arrives before the end of September.
That gives Rangers a clear early target after a summer shaped by recruitment, staff changes and supporter expectation.
ReadRangers has already assessed how the Derek McInnes Rangers rebuild has a fixture shape and early pressure points. This schedule now gives that pressure a sharper timeline.
The fixture list also increases the importance of the club’s preparation work.
McInnes needs his squad settled before the first derby mood test. Rangers can build early belief with a strong start, but any dropped points will quickly feed into the wider rebuild debate.
The post-split Old Firm meeting will be confirmed later.
For now, the first three dates already set the tone for a season where Rangers need evidence quickly.
