Palermo’s bid to return to Serie A for the first time in nine years begins with a home game against Reggiana, followed by two more fixtures at the Renzo Barbera over the next three weeks in what is a dream start for Filippo Inzaghi.

After coming unstuck in the play-offs against Juve Stabia two months ago, the Rosanero have embarked on a summer overhaul with the biggest change of all coming in the dugout where Inzaghi replaced Alessio Dionisi.

Fresh from taking Pisa back to Serie A for the first time in 34 years, the 2006 World Cup winner opted to remain in calcio’s second tier instead and will now look to complete a hat-trick of promotions after taking Benevento to the top flight five years ago.

After hosting Reggiana to start the season on the weekend of August 23, Palermo welcome Frosinone a week later and then travel to Sudtirol after the first international break, before Bari visit the Barbera.

Like Inzaghi, Giovanni Stroppa also won promotion last season and, like Inzaghi, he also opted to remain in Serie B, swapping Cremonese for Venezia, who were relegated on the final day of the season.

The Lagunari are due in Sicily on the sixth weekend of the season, but their start to the campaign is considerably more demanding than Palermo’s.

Venezia host Bari, who narrowly missed out on a play-off sport last term, on the opening weekend then travel to Campania to face Juve Stabia, one of the surprise packages of last season, who came undone against Stroppa’s Cremonese in the play-off semi-finals.

A trip to newly-promoted Pescara is up next, before Cesena, who were knocked out in the first round of the play-offs three months ago, and Spezia visit the Pierluigi Penzo ahead of Venezia’s trip to Sicily.

Fellow relegated teams Empoli and Monza also kick off their campaign at home, with the Tuscans hosting newly promoted Padova and Monza welcoming Mantova in a Lombardy derby before travelling to Bari a week later when Empoli take the short trip to Reggio Emilia to take on Reggiana.

The Azzurri welcome Spezia, losing finalists in last season’s play-offs after the first international break, while Monza travel to Campania to face Avellino on their return to calcio’s second tier.

Elsewhere, after avoiding relegation to Serie C by the skin of their teeth at the second time of asking, Sampdoria open their campaign at home to Modena, followed by trips to Sudtirol and Monza either side of Cesena’s visit.

A goalless draw with Juve Stabia on the final day of the season had condemned them to Serie C for the first time in their 79-year history.

Salernitana, meanwhile, would face Frosinone in the relegation play-off, with Brescia safe in 15th place. It was a seismic shock for calcio and a source of celebrations for Genoa fans, who gleefully waved their arch-rivals down to Serie C.

But the courts, as is often their wont in Italian football, soon intervened. Brescia were deducted points over financial irregularities and were relegated instead, with Frosinone now safe and Sampdoria handed an unexpected lifeline.

The Blucerchiati beat Salernitana over two legs in the relegation play-out, condemning the Granata to a second successive demotion.

A fascinating run-in could be in the offing, with Venezia travelling to Bari on matchday 35, Palermo hosting Cesena and Sampdoria entertaining Monza on the same weekend.

A week later, Venezia host Empoli while Palermo travel to Reggio Emilia and Monza host Modena. Matchday 37 has Monza at Mantova, Venezia at Spezia and the Rosanero hosting Catanzaro.

Monza welcome Empoli on the final day of the season while Palermo take on Venezia in what could well be a promotion shootout.

Don’t forget, Destination Calcio will be bringing you live Serie B action during every round of the 2025-26 on DCTV.

Click HERE for the full 2025-26 calendar.