West Ham United’s first game back in the Championship will be at Upton Park against Cardiff City.
The Hammers will also play Doncaster Rovers and Watford in the opening weeks of the season as new boss Sam Allardyce looks to hit the ground running after the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Carling Cup holders Birmingham City were also relegated and - minus new Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish - they begin with a local derby against Derby County at Pride Park, while Ian Holloway’s Blackpool commence their season at Hull City.
Leeds United begin their eighth season outside the Premier League with a tough looking away game at promoted Southampton, while Steve McClaren’s managerial stint at Nottingham Forest kicks off at home to Barnsley.
Elsewhere McClaren’s former club Middlesbrough are at home to Portsmouth, playoff final casualties Reading host Millwall and League One playoff kings Peterborough United start at home to Crystal Palace.
Brighton, the League One champions, welcome Doncaster to the seaside, with Burnley at home to Watford, Ipswich travelling to Bristol City and another midlands derby seeing Coventry host Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester.
Championship opening fixtures:
Saturday, August 6
Brighton v Doncaster
Bristol City v Ipswich
Burnley v Watford
Coventry v Leicester
Derby v Birmingham
Hull v Blackpool
Middlesbrough v Portsmouth
Nottm Forest v Barnsley
Peterborough v Crystal Palace
Reading v Millwall
Southampton v Leeds
West Ham v Cardiff
Saturday, August 13
Barnsley v Southampton
Birmingham v Coventry
Blackpool v Peterborough
Cardiff v Bristol City
Crystal Palace v Burnley
Doncaster v West Ham
Ipswich v Hull
Leeds v Middlesbrough
Leicester v Reading
Millwall v Nottm Forest
Portsmouth v Brighton
Watford v Derby
Tuesday, August 16
Barnsley v Middlesbrough
Birmingham v Burnley
Blackpool v Derby
Cardiff v Brighton
Crystal Palace v Coventry
Doncaster v Nottm Forest
Ipswich v Southampton
Leeds v Hull
Leicester v Bristol City
Millwall v Peterborough
Portsmouth v Reading
Watford v West Ham