The Cymru Premier will expand from 12 to 16 clubs under a major shake-up of Welsh football's domestic top flight.

From the 2026-27 season, the league will be split into three divisions rather than two during the closing stages of the season.

Play-offs will also be introduced to determine promotion and relegation between the national top flight and the two second-tier leagues in both north and south Wales.

Plans already announced for the new look Cymru Premier include playing most fixtures on Friday night and introducing a new 'VAR Lite' system.

The FAW says it's explored multiple formats and structures as part of its review of the league, in an effort to build on awareness, strengthen the product and increase average attendances at games.

What's the new structure?

The first key change of note is the increase of the Cymru Premier from twelve teams to sixteen - effectively reversing a decision made in 2010 when the 'Super 12' format was introduced.

Each club will play each other twice - once at home and once away - until matchday 30, when the league splits into three.

The Championship Race will see the top six teams play each other one more time before the champions are crowned on Matchday 35, with the other clubs qualifying at least for the end-of-season European play-offs.

This halves the current Championship Conference, which sees the top six play each other home and away.

Clubs ranked from 7th to 10h will enter the European Challenger group.

Again, these four teams will play each other once more with the winning team entering the European play-offs - most likely for a place in the Europa League or the UEFA Conference League.

Currently, the Play-Off Conference involves the bottom six of the league - with the winners going through to the play-offs and the bottom two clubs being relegated.

The teams ranked from 11th to 16 will go into the Survival Zone - and play each other once more.

On Matchday 35, the clubs in 15th and 16th will be automatically relegated, but the club finishing in 14th will face a relegation play-off final.

Who they'll face will be determined by a semi-final involving the runners-up of the Cymru North and the Cymru South. The winners of the final will either be promoted or relegated to the Cymru Premier.

The champions in the Cymru North and the Cymru South would be automatically promoted as before, pending a Tier One licence.

Why this structure?

The FAW argues the new look Cymru Premier will create more fixture scarcity and deliver high-stakes games throughout the season, making fans more likely to follow the league from start to finish.

It also maintains a high level of competition and offers the top clubs more and better preparation for European qualifiers, which are usually played out-of-season.

Introducing a relegation play-off adds a new level of 'jeopardy' to the league, similar to the format seen in Scotland, with the new format as a whole ensuring long-term sustainability for the commercial revenues of teams, such as Caernarfon Town.

Jack Sharp, head of domestic leagues at the FAW, said: "We are delighted to finally be able to share the new JD Cymru Premier format for the 2026/27 season onwards."

"It was important that a structure could be identified that allows our clubs to flourish, the FAW to work towards the outcomes of the JD Cymru Premier strategy and have a top-flight league which the country can be proud of."

"An analytical, data-driven process was run to thoroughly analyse the best league structure through the lens of guiding principles. We have built a model where connection is at the heart of our league as we strive to create a more accessible, exciting and engaging JD Cymru Premier."

“It was fantastic to see how positive our current JD Cymru Premier clubs have received the new format and the excitement that came out of a recent meeting with owners and chairs."

The FAW says further details about the new structure will be released before the changes come into force in two years time.