Sky Blues awarded Honorary Freedom of the city after Premier League return
The motion was granted unanimously by the city council
Coventry City have been awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City after winning the Championship title and after returning to to the Premier League after 25 years.
The motion was granted unanimously at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Coventry City Council today (23rd June).
The honour incudes the entirety of Coventry City FC, including players, management, staff, and supporters and communities.
The Sky Blues return to the top flight was celebrated by the whole city on Bank Holiday Monday (4 May 2026) with an open-top bus parade wound through Coventry – which was watched by an estimated 200,000 people along the route.
A festival called "We Are Back: Live" also took place in War Memorial Park, and was attended by almost 50,000 fans.
Councillor George Duggins, Leader of Coventry City Council, who nominated the club for the prestigious honour, said: “Coventry is immensely proud of its football club, and the return to the Premier League is a moment of huge significance for our city.
“This is an extraordinary achievement which deserves an extraordinary honour. Awarding the Honorary Freedom of the City is our way, on behalf of the whole city, of saying thank you and recognising everything the club has given to Coventry.
“This achievement belongs not only to the team and everyone at the club, but to the generations of supporters and communities who have always stood behind them.”
The Honorary Freedom of the City is the highest civic commendation Coventry City Council can bestow, and recognises individuals or organisations that have provided distinguished service to the city.
The last recipient was the staff of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust in 2022 for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city council say the honour also recognises the benefit that Coventry City's premier League status brings to Coventry and the region is expected to see benefits across hospitality, retail, tourism and the visitor economy.