Sunderland's will take on Coventry City at the Stadium of Light on the opening weekend of the season - with the Black Cats' return to the Championship screened live on Sky Sports. Alex Neil's side will have to wait an extra day for their campaign to get under way, with the Sky Blues due on Wearside on Sunday, July 31, with kick-off at 12noon.
Sunderland then face one of their longest trips of the season when they head to Bristol City for their first away game the following Saturday at the beginning of August, before returning to home soil a week later when Queens Park Rangers visit. Back-to-back away games will see Sunderland face last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in midweek before travelling to Stoke City the following weekend, with August rounded out with two home games against Norwich City - who were relegated from the Premier League last season - and Rotherham United, who were promoted from League One with the Black Cats last term.
Other highlights include the Tees-Wear fixture against Middlesbrough on September 3, with the return at the Stadium of Light in mid-January. The festive programme sees Sunderland take on Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light on Boxing Day, before heading to Wigan on December 29, and then to Blackpool on New Year's Day.
