The 2026 season marks the most dramatic transformation in the history of the J.League.
For international football fans visiting Japan, this year offers a rare chance to witness Japanese football at a historic turning point.

Japan’s top league will move away from its traditional spring–autumn calendar and adopt a European-style autumn–spring season.
To make this shift possible, 2026 will be divided into two distinct phases.

This article explains:

• Why the J.League is changing its season format
• Why it originally used a spring–autumn system
• When the J1 Centennial League starts
• When the first full autumn–spring J.League season begins
• Which 20 clubs are competing in J1
• Why 2026 is a special year for foreign visitors

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Why Is the J.League Changing Its Season?

The J.League has long operated on a calendar designed for Japan’s climate and domestic sports culture.
However, modern football is global, and Japan is adapting to that reality.

Main reasons for the reform:

• Alignment with international transfer windows
• Compatibility with Asian continental competitions
• Improved player development and squad planning
• Stronger global integration of Japanese football

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Why Was the J.League Originally Spring–Autumn?

Japan’s original calendar was shaped by practical considerations:

• Heavy snowfall in northern regions
• Avoiding winter travel disruption
• Traditional alignment with school and corporate sports schedules

While effective domestically, this structure increasingly conflicted with global football — leading to the landmark change in 2026.

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Phase 1: The J1 Centennial League (Early 2026)

When does it start?

👉 February 2026

From February to June 2026, the J.League will host a special transitional competition:

Meiji Yasuda J.League Centennial League

(commonly referred to as the J1 Centennial League)

This tournament exists only in 2026 and serves as a bridge between the old and new systems.

Key Characteristics

• Played from February to June 2026
• No promotion or relegation
• No movement between J.League divisions or the JFL
• Designed as a short-term, decisive competition

Match Rules

• Matches tied after 90 minutes go directly to penalty shootouts
• Clear results are prioritized over draws

Points System

• Win in 90 minutes: 3 points
• Win on penalties: 2 points
• Loss on penalties: 1 point
• Loss in 90 minutes: 0 points

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Domestic Cups in 2026

During the Centennial League period:

• ❌ J.League YBC Levain Cup is not held
• ❌ Emperor’s Cup is not held

However:

• ✅ AFC Champions League Elite
• ✅ AFC Champions League Two
  will still be played.

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Phase 2: The First Autumn–Spring J.League Season

When does the new system officially begin?

👉 August 2026

The 2026/27 J.League season will be the first-ever season played entirely under the autumn–spring format.

Season Schedule (Planned)

• Kickoff: August 2026
• J1 final round: Early June 2027
• J2 & J3 final rounds: Late May 2027
• Winter break: Early December 2026 to late February 2027

This marks the true beginning of a new era for Japanese football.

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J1 League 2026: All 20 Clubs

Below are the 20 clubs competing in J1, based strictly on confirmed information.

Club	Prefecture	Home Stadium	Previous Season
Kashima Antlers	Ibaraki	Mercari Stadium	J1 Champions
Urawa Reds	Saitama	Saitama Stadium 2002	J1 7th
Kashiwa Reysol	Chiba	SANKYO Frontier Kashiwa Stadium	J1 2nd
FC Tokyo	Tokyo	Ajinomoto Stadium	J1 11th
Tokyo Verdy	Tokyo	Ajinomoto Stadium	J1 17th
FC Machida Zelvia	Tokyo	Machida GION Stadium	J1 6th
Kawasaki Frontale	Kanagawa	Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu	J1 8th
Yokohama F. Marinos	Kanagawa	Nissan Stadium	J1 15th
Shimizu S-Pulse	Shizuoka	IAI Stadium Nihondaira	J1 14th
Nagoya Grampus	Aichi	Toyota Stadium	J1 16th
Kyoto Sanga F.C.	Kyoto	Sanga Stadium by KYOCERA	J1 3rd
Gamba Osaka	Osaka	Panasonic Stadium Suita	J1 9th
Cerezo Osaka	Osaka	Nagai Stadium	J1 10th
Vissel Kobe	Hyogo	Noevir Stadium Kobe	J1 5th
Fagiano Okayama	Okayama	JFE Harenokuni Stadium	J1 13th
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Hiroshima	Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima	J1 4th
Avispa Fukuoka	Fukuoka	Best Denki Stadium	J1 12th
Mito HollyHock	Ibaraki	K’s Denki Stadium Mito	J2 Champions
JEF United Chiba	Chiba	Fukuda Denshi Arena	J2 3rd
V-Varen Nagasaki	Nagasaki	PEACE STADIUM Connected by SoftBank	J2 2nd

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Why 2026 Is a Must-See Year for International Fans

• Two completely different competition formats in one year
• Penalty shootouts in regular league play
• No domestic cups, making league matches even more important
• A rare opportunity to witness the birth of Japan’s autumn–spring era

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Final Thoughts

The J1 Centennial League begins in February 2026,
and the first true autumn–spring J.League season kicks off in August 2026.

For football fans visiting Japan, 2026 is not just another season —
it is a once-in-a-generation transformation of Japanese football.

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