Nottingham Forest to face Brest in final pre-season friendly before Premier League opener

Nottingham Forest will play Brest in a final pre‑season friendly at the City Ground on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The match is the last of their summer preparations before the Premier League season begins the following weekend. Forest will open their campaign against Leeds United on August 23, 2026, having completed all warm‑up fixtures. The club will also begin the new top‑flight campaign without a front‑of‑shirt sponsor, a situation that has occurred three times since their return to the Premier League in 2022. The fixture against Brest is listed as a Club Friendlies 3 game, though the exact kick‑off time has not been confirmed publicly. This final friendly serves as the last tactical test for Forest’s new signings and formation tweaks ahead of a competitive opener against Leeds, a match that will set the tone for their league campaign. The absence of a primary shirt sponsor highlights ongoing commercial challenges for the club as they enter a new season. Fans and analysts will watch the Brest game closely to gauge team cohesion and readiness for the Premier League’s opening weekend.

Final pre-season test at the City Ground

Nottingham Forest’s final pre‑season fixture takes place at the City Ground on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The match against Brest is listed as a Club Friendlies 3 friendly and forms part of Forest’s preparation for the Premier League season. Kick‑off times are published in BST but an exact start time has not been confirmed. The game represents the culmination of Forest’s summer schedule and the last chance for manager Nuno Espírito Santo to fine‑tune his side before the competitive campaign begins.

The following weekend, on August 23, Forest open their Premier League account against Leeds United. A sponsor for the front of the club’s shirt remains unresolved, leaving the team without a primary commercial partner for the fourth consecutive season since their return to the top flight in 2022.

According to reports, the exact kick‑off time for the August 16 encounter has not been finalised.

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   Nottingham Forest's final pre-season friendly against Brest at the City Ground

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   Nottingham Forest's final pre-season match before the competitive season begins

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   Nottingham Forest vs Brest in Club Friendlies 3 fixture

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   Nottingham Forest's final preparation match for the Premier League opener

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   Nottingham Forest's Premier League opener against Leeds United

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   Nottingham Forest begin the new Premier League season without a front-of-shirt sponsor

Preparation for Leeds opener

The match against Brest comes just days before Nottingham Forest begin their Premier League campaign against Leeds United on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The opener follows the weekend after the final pre‑season match, giving the squad a short turnaround to finalize tactics and fitness. Forest’s schedule confirms the sequence: Brest on August 16, then Leeds on August 23. This rapid shift

Nottingham Forest’s final pre‑season friendly against Brest will be played at the City Ground on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The game marks the third and last warm‑up fixture before the league season starts.

Nottingham Forest will begin the new Premier League season without a front‑of‑shirt sponsor, marking the fourth time since their return to the top‑flight in 2022 that this has occurred.

The fixture details remain subject to change, according to reports.

Sponsorship gap persists into new season

Nottingham Forest will begin the new Premier League season without a front-of-shirt sponsor for the fourth time since their return to the top flight in 2022. The club has not secured a new kit partner ahead of the campaign, continuing a pattern that has seen them start multiple seasons without a primary shirt sponsor. This ongoing commercial gap highlights challenges in the club's off-pitch deal-making, contrasting with rivals who have locked in major partnerships. The lack of a sponsor persists despite ownership investment and high-profile signings, underscoring unresolved financial and branding priorities as the new season approaches.

Low confidence on fixture details

The fixture against Brest is confirmed as part of Nottingham Forest's pre-season schedule and is listed as a Club Friendlies 3 match on Sunday, August 16, 2026. However, the exact kick-off time remains unspecified, with sources only noting that times are listed in BST. This uncertainty reflects the limited public detail available ahead of the match, with no official confirmation beyond the date. The club has indicated the game will take place at the City Ground as their final preparation before the Premier League opener against Leeds United the following weekend. No further details on timing or broadcast information have been released.

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