New boss Paul Hurst’s first Sky Bet Championship game in charge of Town will be a home fixture against newly-promoted Blackburn Rovers, who are managed by former Blues skipper and coach Tony Mowbray.
The Lancastrians, who battled with Hurst’s Shrewsbury side towards the top of League One last season before beating them to second place, are scheduled to visit Portman Road on Saturday 4th August.
Town’s first away match of the season is the following week, Saturday 11th August, at Rotherham United, where Hurst spent virtually all of his playing career and who defeated his Shrews in the League One play-off final.
Following the extensive midweek Carabao Cup trip to Exeter, August’s Championship campaign continues with the Blues’ second home game against Aston Villa, Saturday 18th August, before a Tuesday 21st August trip to Derby County.
The opening month of the season ends with Saturday 25th August’s visit to Sheffield Wednesday, the club Steel City-born Hurst supported as a boy.
September opens with the first East Anglian derby of the season against Norwich City at Portman Road, which is currently set for Saturday 1st September but is almost certain to switch to a lunchtime kick-off on the following day. The first international break of the season follows.
The season’s second month then continues with a trip to Hull City, Saturday 15th September, Brentford make the trip to Suffolk on a Wednesday rather than the usual Tuesday, 19th September, then Bolton visit Portman Road on Saturday 22nd September and finally the Blues travel to Birmingham City, Saturday 29th September.
The second East Anglian derby of the season at Carrow Road is currently set for Saturday 9th February, but again will almost certainly move to the following day at lunchtime.
The Christmas/New Year period sees the Blues at home to Sheffield United on Saturday 22nd December, but are away at QPR on Boxing Day, which is followed by a lengthy trip to Teesside to take on Middlesbrough on Saturday 29th December.
New Year’s Day sees Millwall at Portman Road with the FA Cup third round the following weekend.
The run-in will see Town visit Bolton Wanderers on Saturday 6th April, before a midweek visit to Brentford, Tuesday 9th April.
Birmingham are in Suffolk on Saturday 13th April, then the Blues travel to Preston North End on Friday 19th April, which is Good Friday, with a home match against Swansea City on Easter Monday.
Town are at Bramall Lane to play Sheffield United in their final away match of the season on Saturday 27th April before the season ends with a home game against Leeds United, Sunday 5th May, which kicks-off at 12.30pm.
In addition to the early season trip to Derby, the away game against Leeds is also in midweek, Wednesday 24th October. The Blues also have a midweek away game at Bristol City on Tuesday 12th March.
Further to Swansea’s Easter visit to Portman Road, the Blues host the other two newly-relegated former Premier League clubs, West Brom and Stoke, on Saturday 24th November and Saturday 16th February respectively.
Town face the Swans away on Saturday 6th October, visit the Potters on Saturday 8th December and the Baggies on Saturday 9th March.
A full list of Town’s 2018/19 fixtures can be found here.