Kilmarnock open their 2026-27 Scottish Premiership season with a trip to McDiarmid Park to face St Johnstone, as both sides look to start the new campaign on a positive note. The match marks the first of the season for Derek McInnes’ side, who finished 11th in the 2025 Premiership table with 28 points from 33 games, securing a recent five-game winning run.
What’s the recent form?
Kilmarnock head into this fixture on the back of a strong finish to last season, winning their final five matches, including a 4-1 victory over Livingston on 17 May 2026. Their goal difference for the 2025 campaign stood at -28, with 37 scored and 65 conceded, leaving them 42 points adrift of leaders Heart of Midlothian.
How have they fared against St Johnstone?
Historically, Kilmarnock have had the edge in recent meetings, with St Johnstone losing four of their last six Premiership games against Killie, including the last two. The Saints have also struggled on the opening day, failing to win their first match in each of the last seven seasons, with their last MD1 victory coming against Kilmarnock in 2017-18.
What’s at stake?
A win for Kilmarnock would set the tone for a season where they’ll aim to climb higher than their 11th-place finish last term. St Johnstone, meanwhile, will be eager to break their opening-day duck and avoid an eighth consecutive season without a win on MD1.
