Aston Villa will showcase the “Visit Rwanda” brand on the front of its shirt for the first time in the Premier League when it opens its 2026/27 campaign away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, August 23.
The partnership gives Rwanda visibility on the shirts of Aston Villa’s men’s, women’s and academy teams across domestic and European competitions.
Villa’s Premier League opener will take place at the American Express Stadium, with Unai Emery’s side looking to make a strong start to a season that will also include the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
The club enters the campaign with a reshaped squad after adding several new players, including Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri.
Villa will also be looking to respond after losing 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup earlier this month.
The “Visit Rwanda” partnership represents a new chapter in Rwanda’s football-based international tourism promotion after the country’s previous Premier League association with Arsenal ended.
The agreement with Aston Villa is aimed at promoting Rwanda not only as a tourism destination but also as a destination for business, investment, sport and major events.
The branding will receive its first Premier League exposure when Villa face Brighton on Sunday, putting Rwanda’s tourism message before a global football audience as the 2026/27 season gets underway.
Meanwhile, the new Premier League season officially begins on Friday, August 21, with Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City.
Arsenal’s opening match will be its first Premier League game without the “Visit Rwanda” branding after the conclusion of the club’s eight-year partnership with Rwanda.
