West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley lead early 2026-27 Championship promotion markets after their Premier League relegation, bolstered by parachute payments and deeper squads relative to most second-tier sides. Middlesbrough, Southampton, and Birmingham City sit among the next tier of contenders based on recent transfer activity and pre-season form, while sides such as Millwall, Norwich City, and Wrexham feature in longer-priced discussions. The expanded play-off format now includes teams finishing as high as eighth, increasing the number of promotion pathways but also extending the battle deeper into the table. Early match results from the opening weekends have begun to shape initial momentum, though a 46-game schedule leaves substantial room for shifts driven by injuries, managerial adjustments, and fixture congestion.