2026 Liga 1 (Peru)
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 30 January – December 2026 |
← 2025 2027 → | |
The 2026 Liga 1 de Fútbol Profesional (known as the Liga 1 Te Apuesto 2026 for sponsorship reasons) will be the 110th season of the Peruvian Primera División, the highest division of Peruvian football. The season is scheduled to start on 30 January 2026, with the fixture draw set to be held on 7 January 2026.[1]
Universitario are the defending champions, having won three titles in a row in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Teams
Eighteen teams will take part in this season, one less than the previous season: the top 16 teams of the 2025 tournament, plus the 2025 Liga 2 champions Cajamarca and runner-up Deportivo Moquegua. Both Cajamarca and Deportivo Moquegua got promoted for the first time in their history. The promoted teams replaced Ayacucho, Alianza Universidad and Binacional, who were relegated at the end of the previous season.[2] Binacional were disqualified from the previous season on 19 August 2025, and were relegated to the Liga 2.[3]
Team changes
| Promoted from 2025 Liga 2 | Relegated from 2025 Liga 1 |
|---|---|
| Cajamarca (1st) Deportivo Moquegua (2nd) |
Ayacucho (17th) Alianza Universidad (18th) Binacional (Disqualified) |
Stadia and locations
Locations of the 2026 Liga 1 teams
Locations of the 2026 Liga 1 teams – Lima.
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADT | Tarma | Unión Tarma | 9,100 |
| Alianza Atlético | Sullana | Campeones del 36 | 12,000 |
| Alianza Lima | Lima | Alejandro Villanueva | 35,938 |
| Atlético Grau | Piura | Miguel Grau | 22,200 |
| Cajamarca | Cajamarca | Cristo El Señor | 20,000 |
| Cienciano | Cusco | Garcilaso | 45,056 |
| Comerciantes Unidos | Cutervo | Juan Maldonado Gamarra | 13,680 |
| Cusco | Cusco | Garcilaso | 45,056 |
| Deportivo Garcilaso | Cusco | Garcilaso | 45,056 |
| Deportivo Moquegua | Moquegua | 25 de Noviembre | 21,073 |
| Juan Pablo II College | Chongoyape | Complejo Juan Pablo II | 3,000 |
| Los Chankas | Andahuaylas | Los Chankas | 10,000 |
| Melgar | Arequipa | Virgen de Chapi | 40,370 |
| Sport Boys | Callao | Miguel Grau | 17,000 |
| Sport Huancayo | Huancayo | Huancayo | 20,000 |
| Sporting Cristal | Lima | Alberto Gallardo | 11,600 |
| Universitario | Lima | Monumental | 80,093 |
| UTC | Cajamarca | Héroes de San Ramón | 10,485 |
- Notes
Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Main shirt sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADT | New Athletic | Caja Huancayo | |
| Alianza Atlético | Federico Urciuoli | Walon | |
| Alianza Lima | Pablo Guede | Nike | Apuesta Total, Caja Huancayo |
| Atlético Grau | Ángel Comizzo | Walon | Caja Piura |
| Cajamarca | Carlos Silvestri | Dorcam Sport | IRZA Ingenieros |
| Cienciano | Horacio Melgarejo | Umbro | Caja Cusco, DoradoBet |
| Comerciantes Unidos | Claudio Biaggio | Real Sport | |
| Cusco | Miguel Rondelli | Adidas | DoradoBet |
| Deportivo Garcilaso | Hernán Lisi | Ander Sport | Salkantay Trekking |
| Deportivo Moquegua | Jaime Serna | Palant | Grupo México, Southern Peru |
| Juan Pablo II College | Marcelo Zuleta | Real Sport | |
| Los Chankas | Walter Paolella | New Athletic | Cerveza Apurimeña |
| Melgar | Juan Reynoso | Walon | Stake |
| Sport Boys | Astro | Apuesta Total | |
| Sport Huancayo | Richard Pellejero | Lotto | Caja Huancayo |
| Sporting Cristal | Paulo Autuori | Puma | Caja Piura, DoradoBet |
| Universitario | Javier Rabanal | Marathon | Apuesta Total |
| UTC | Carlos Bustos | Astro | Tinbet |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torneo Apertura | ||||||
| Deportivo Garcilaso | Carlos Bustos | Mutual agreement | 13 November 2025[5] | Pre-season | Hernán Lisi | 5 December 2025[6] |
| ADT | Horacio Melgarejo | End of contract | 20 November 2025[7] | |||
| Cienciano | Carlos Desio | 23 November 2025[8] | Horacio Melgarejo | 24 November 2025[9] | ||
| Cajamarca | Juan Carlos Malpica | 24 November 2025[10] | Carlos Silvestri | 26 November 2025[11] | ||
| Alianza Atlético | Gerardo Ameli | Mutual agreement | 27 November 2025[12] | Federico Urciuoli | 8 December 2025[13] | |
| Juan Pablo II College | Santiago Acasiete | End of contract | 30 November 2025[14] | Marcelo Zuleta | 15 December 2025[15] | |
| UTC | Hernán Lisi | 3 December 2025 | Carlos Bustos | 10 December 2025[16] | ||
| Alianza Lima | Néstor Gorosito | Sacked | 7 December 2025[17] | Pablo Guede | 12 December 2025[18] | |
| Universitario | Jorge Fossati | Mutual agreement | 11 December 2025[19] | Javier Rabanal | 15 December 2025[20] | |
| Sport Boys | Juan Carlos Cabanillas | End of contract | 15 December 2025[21] | |||
- Notes
Torneo Apertura
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ADT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to the Playoffs |
| 2 | Alianza Atlético | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Alianza Lima | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Atlético Grau | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Cajamarca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Cienciano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Comerciantes Unidos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | Cusco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Deportivo Garcilaso | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Deportivo Moquegua | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Juan Pablo II College | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Los Chankas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Melgar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | Sport Boys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | Sport Huancayo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | Sporting Cristal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | Universitario | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | UTC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First match(es) will be played: 30 January 2026. Source: Liga 1
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals for; 4) Fair play points; 5) Drawing of lots.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals for; 4) Fair play points; 5) Drawing of lots.
Aggregate table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ADT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to Playoffs and qualification for Copa Libertadores |
| 2 | Alianza Atlético | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Alianza Lima | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana first stage |
| 4 | Atlético Grau | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Cajamarca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Cienciano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Comerciantes Unidos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | Cusco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Deportivo Garcilaso | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Deportivo Moquegua | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Juan Pablo II College | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Los Chankas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Melgar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | Sport Boys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | Sport Huancayo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | Sporting Cristal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | Universitario | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Relegation to Liga 2 |
| 18 | UTC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First match(es) will be played: 30 January 2026. Source: Liga 1
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals for; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals for; 7) Fair play points; 8) Drawing of lots.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals for; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals for; 7) Fair play points; 8) Drawing of lots.
See also
- 2026 Liga 2
- 2026 Liga 3
- 2026 Copa Perú
- 2026 Ligas Departamentales del Perú
- 2026 Liga Femenina
- 2026 Torneo Juvenil Sub-18
References
- ^ "Liga 1 2026 ya tiene fecha de inicio: ¿cuándo será el sorteo del fixture del torneo?" [2026 Liga 1 already has a start date: when will the tournament's fixture draw be held?] (in Spanish). Depor. 4 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "Entre lágrimas: Con Ayacucho FC, estos son los equipos que descendieron a la Liga 2" [Through tears: With Ayacucho FC, these are the teams that were relegated to Liga 2] (in Spanish). El Comercio. 23 November 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ "FPF confirmó descenso de Binacional de la Liga 1 con lapidario comunicado: "Definitivamente excluido"" [FPF confirmed Binacional's relegation from Liga 1 with a damning statement: "Definitely excluded"] (in Spanish). La República. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ Lades, Gunther. "Peru". website. fussballtempel.net. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
- ^ "Carlos Bustos no continuará como entrenador de Deportivo Garcilaso" [Carlos Bustos will not continue as manager of Deportivo Garcilaso] (in Spanish). Ovación. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Deportivo Garcilaso oficializó a su nuevo entrenador para la Liga 1 y Copa Sudamericana 2026" [Deportivo Garcilaso turned official their new manager of the 2026 Liga 1 and the Copa Sudamericana] (in Spanish). Fútbol Peruano. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Melgarejo: "Nadie del club me llamó para decirme si sigo o no"" [Melgarejo: "Nobody from the club called me to say if I continue or not"] (in Spanish). Ovación. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Desio: "Teníamos arreglado con Cienciano que para 2026 iba a armar el equipo, pero..."" [Desio: "We had everything agreed with Cienciano for that I was in charge of the club in 2026, but..."] (in Spanish). Ovación. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Mientras Carlos Desio criticó a su directiva: Cienciano confirmó su nuevo DT para el 2026" [While Carlos Desio criticized their board: Cienciano confirmed their new manager for 2026] (in Spanish). Depor. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "Malpica: "Nadie de FC Cajamarca se ha comunicado conmigo"" [Malpica: "Nobody from FC Cajamarca has gotten in touch with me"] (in Spanish). Ovación. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Carlos Silvestri tendría todo arreglado para dirigir a FC Cajamarca en su debut en Liga1" [Carlos Silvestri has reportedly finalized everything to manage FC Cajamarca in their Liga1 debut] (in Spanish). Ovación. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ "Gerardo Ameli no continuará en Alianza Atlético" [Gerardo Ameli will not continue at Alianza Atlético] (in Spanish). Ovación. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "Alianza Atlético anunció a Federico Urciuoli como nuevo entrenador para la temporada 2026" [Alianza Atlético announced Federico Urciouli as new coach for the 2026 season] (in Spanish). Ovación. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "Santiago Acasiete no seguirá como técnico de Juan Pablo II" [Santiago Acasiete will not continue as manager of Juan Pablo II] (in Spanish). Ovación. 30 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Galiano, Renzo (15 December 2025). "Juan Pablo II anuncia la contratación del entrenador argentino Marcelo Zuleta, campeón histórico de la Copa Ecuador" [Juan Pablo II announced the signing of Argentine coach Marcelo Zuleta, historical Copa Ecuador champion] (in Spanish). Infobae. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Carlos Bustos asumió como entrenador de UTC" [Carlos Bustos took over as coach of UTC] (in Spanish). Ovación. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ "ES OFICIAL: Néstor Gorosito no es más técnico de Alianza Lima" [IT'S OFFICIAL: Néstor Gorosito is no longer manager of Alianza Lima] (in Spanish). Ovación. 7 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "¡Guede fue oficializado como entrenador de Alianza Lima!" [Guede was made official as Alianza Lima coach!] (in Spanish). Ovación. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ "Punto final a la historia: Jorge Fossati no es más director técnico de Universitario" [End of the story: Jorge Fossati is no longer the manager of Universitario] (in Spanish). Depor. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ La Rosa, Edilson (15 December 2025). "Javier Rabanal será técnico de Universitario para el 2026" [Javier Rabanal will be Universitario's manager for 2026] (in Spanish). América TV. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ "(VIDEO) Sport Boys anunció el fin del ciclo del 'Pato' Cabanillas como DT del primer equipo" [(VIDEO) Sport Boys announced the end of Duck Cabanillas' spell as manager of the first team] (in Spanish). Ovación. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
External links
- Official website (in Spanish)