When is the Premier League winter break? Dates of 2023/24 EPL mid-season interval

The 2023/24 Premier League season will feature a winter break as part of an ongoing commitment to player welfare and managing game loads within busy schedules.

Calls for a Premier League mid-season break emerged in the mid-2000s, as clubs competing in the Premier League, European tournaments, and multiple cup competitions saw their fixture lists continue to pile up.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Manchester United defender Raphael Varane have led the recent calls for greater focus on reducing unnecessary matches, particularly in years that also include a World Cup, Copa America or European Championship.

The Sporting News has the latest on the Premier League's plan for a winter break in 2023/24 on the back of a disrupted 2022/23 season.

 Premier League fixtures for 2023/24 season

A winter break in the 2023/24 Premier League will take place in January 2024.

These mid-season intervals, which have been commonplace in other major European leagues for some years, have become more prevalent in England in recent seasons.

One was taken in 2019/20, shortly before the sport was shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The disruption to the football calendar that followed meant no such break was taken in 2020/21. The following season did include a winter break, though, through the final week of January and the first week of February.

The 2022/23 Premier League season did not include a designated winter break due to the World Cup in Qatar taking place from November 13 to December 26, during which top domestic leagues paused.

With 2023/24 marking something of a return to normality following last year's World Cup disruption, a welcome mid-season break has been included on the Premier League calendar.

No Premier League matches will be