Scottish Premiership 2026-27 opens with match previews

Four Scottish Premiership fixtures are previewed ahead of the 2026‑27 season opener. Inverness Caledonian Thistle (ICTFC) host Dunfermline Athletic, with head coach Scott Kellacher highlighting a strong pre‑season and recent cup run, while noting the need to avoid costly mistakes. Hibernian travel to face Motherwell; the Edinburgh side recently recovered from a 2‑0 loss in a Conference League qualifier and have added several new signings, including left‑back Adam Mayor. Motherwell, coming off a fourth‑place finish last season, aim to improve on a mixed pre‑season record. Celtic visit Dundee, with veteran manager Martin O’Neill expected to keep the champions on track after a title‑winning 2025‑26 campaign, while Dundee manager Steven Pressley looks to build on a solid eighth‑place finish and potential new signings. Finally, newly promoted St Johnstone host Kilmarnock at McDiarmid Park. Finnish manager Simo Valakari seeks to translate his Championship title into Premiership success, while Kilmarnock, under Neil McCann, hope to continue their late‑season surge that lifted them to tenth place last term.