The Championship will be brimming with good clubs next season, as some major names dropped from the Premier League and respected sides emerged from League One.

West Ham leads the list of teams dropping out of the top division, having recently won the Europa Conference League in 2023, and will be joined by Wolves and Burnley, who were also relegated.

In terms of history, Bolton Wanderers have been the most successful club promoted from the third division, while Lincoln City will work hard to overcome their reputation as minnows.

Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Millwall will all be looking to put their play-off disappointments behind them and push for promotion again, while Birmingham City and Wrexham should be even stronger given their significant assistance.

Which Championship clubs are leading the way in terms of significant honours as the season 2026/27 begins? Football League World analyses out the division’s most successful clubs.

Portsmouth (4)

Portsmouth are the first of three clubs in the 2026/27 Championship season to have won four major titles in their 128-year history.

Pompey won the FA Cup for the first time in 1938/39, before winning it again 69 years later in 2007/08, defeating Cardiff City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.

Nwankwo Kanu’s first-half goal was enough to propel the South Coast club to victory, and Harry Redknapp became the first English manager to win the FA Cup since Joe Royle in 1990.

Portsmouth were again elected English champions in 1948/49 before retaining the championship a year later, while their Community Shield victory in 1949/50 is not regarded a notable achievement.

Pompey slid down the tiers to League One after their most recent cup victory, but since returning to the Championship in 2024, they have avoided relegation.

Preston North End (4).

Preston North End is the next club to have won four major titles, having waited more than 90 years since their last triumph.

North End is an exclusive club, having won the domestic double in 1888/89 by winning both the English top division title and the FA Cup in the same season.

They were the first team to accomplish the feat, and just seven clubs have done so since, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Chelsea.

The Lilywhites defended their league title the following year, 1989/90, before winning the FA Cup again in 1937/38.

Bolton Wanderers (4).

Many people are delighted to see Bolton back in the Championship, given they have a lengthy and successful history in English football, having won four major championships.

The Trotters were a dominant force in the Premier League era and have recovered from the brink of bankruptcy to return to the second division after defeating Stockport County in the League One play-offs.

While the club has failed to win the English league title, it has won the FA Cup four times: 1922/23, 1925/26, 1928/29, and 1957/58.

Bolton has also won a Community Shield, as well as second and third-tier crowns and the Football League trophy.

Next season, survival will be the primary goal for Steven Schumacher and his team, and they will undoubtedly require investment because several of their best players are currently on loan.

West Ham United (five)

West Ham, who will play in the second division for the first time in 14 years, are tied for fifth position in the Championship.

The Hammers’ most recent notable achievement was winning the Europa Conference League in 2022/23, defeating Fiorentina in the second edition of the knockout tournament.

While the East London club’s future appeared bright after their success, they have since suffered a massive decline due to bad recruitment and managerial appointments.

The Irons, like Bolton, have yet to win a league title, but they have won the FA Cup three times (1963/64, 1974/75, 1979/80) and the Cup Winners Cup once, in 1964/65.

The Irons came close to winning the FA Cup in 2006, but were dealt a heavy blow when Steven Gerrard’s stoppage-time equaliser tied the game at 3-3 before Liverpool won on penalties.

Sheffield United (5)

Sheffield United has also won five significant honours in its history, the most notable of which was winning the English Premier League trophy in 1897/98.

In doing so, they became only the fifth title winner, after Preston, Everton, Sunderland, and Aston Villa.

During their early years, the Blades won the FA Cup four times: in 1898/89, 1901/02, 1914/15, and 1924/25.

In addition, the South Yorkshire club has won second, third, and fourth-tier championships throughout its existence.

Sheffield United had a dreadful 2025/26 season, which saw Chris Wilder dramatically return to the club, and they will be hoping for a much better performance next season.

West Brom (seven)

West Brom are the third most successful club in the Championship going into the 2026/27 season, having won seven major titles in their history.

The Baggies’ first trophy came almost 130 years ago, when they won the FA Cup in 1887/88, followed by four more in 1891/92, 1930/31, 1953/54, and 1967/68.

The Black Country club won the League Cup in 1965/66, defeating West Ham 5-3 on aggregate thanks to goals from Jeff Astle, Graham Williams, Clive Clark, Tony Brown, and John Kaye.

Albion also won the English top flight in 1919/20, their most impressive victory to date, and they have won the second tier title three times.

Wolves (9)

While Wolves experienced a difficult Premier League season that resulted in relegation, they have a long and storied history of trophy success.

The Old Gold won the English top-tier title three times during the 1950s: 1953/54, 1957/58, and 1958/59.

The Black Country club has also won the FA Cup four times (1992/93, 1907/08, 1948/49, 1959/60), as well as the League Cup twice (1973/74 and 1979/80).

Rob Edwards’ team will be a contender for the Championship championship next season, having won it four times previously, most recently in 2017/18.

Blackburn Rovers (10).

Blackburn Rovers will be the biggest team in the Championship next season, having won ten major titles since the 1880s.

Rovers will be the only second-tier team next season to have won the English top flight crown during the Premier League era, having done so in 1994/95.

Despite losing 2-1 to Liverpool on the final day of the season, Man United, their closest competitors, were only able to draw with the Hammers, giving Kenny Daglish’s side the title by a point.

Blackburn were also crowned English champions in 1911/12 and 1913/14 and have won the FA Cup six times (1883/84, 1884/85, 1885/86, 1889/90, 1890/91, 1927/28).

Their most recent major honour came in the 2001/02 season when they defeated Tottenham 2-1 to lift the League Cup thanks to goals from Matt Jansen and Andy Cole.

Despite their not-so-distant achievements, the club are preparing for their 15th campaign out of the top flight, and they have shown no signs of returning any time soon