The 2025–26 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the KDM Evolution Trophy due to sponsorship reasons, was the 34th season of the competition. The total number of participating clubs was 40. The competition began on 12 August 2025 with the new league phase and the final took place on 5 April 2026.
Thirty teams from the Championship, League One and League Two competed, along with 10 B teams from the 12 clubs who compete in the Scottish Premiership.
Format RoundDateFixturesClubsNew entriesLeague Phase12/13 August 2025 (matchday 1)26/27 August 2025 (matchday 2)5/6 September 2025 (matchday 3)23/24 September 2025 (matchday 4)10/11 October 2025 (matchday 5)11/17/19 November 2025 (matchday 6)9040 → 3210 teams from 2025–26 Scottish League One 10 teams from 2025–26 Scottish League Two 10 U21 teams from 2025–26 Scottish PremiershipSecond round9 December 20251632 → 1610 teams from 2025–26 Scottish ChampionshipThird round6 January 2026816 → 8Quarter-Finals27/28 January 202648 → 4Semi-Finals24/25 February 202624 → 2Final28/29 March or 4/5 April 202612 → 1
League phase The draw was made on 17 July 2025 at 13:00 and broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube Channel. The draw was regionalised and divided into 3 pots. The matches were played from 12 August 2025 to 19 November 2025.
North Section
Draw Teams entering the competition in the league phase:
Pot APot BPot CCove Rangers Inverness Caledonian Thistle Montrose PeterheadElgin City Forfar Athletic Stirling Albion The SpartansAberdeen B Dundee B Dundee United B Hibernian B
South Section
Draw Teams entering the competition in the league phase:
Pot APot BPot CAlloa Athletic East Fife Hamilton Academical Kelty Hearts Queen of the South StenhousemuirAnnan Athletic Clyde Dumbarton East Kilbride Edinburgh City StranraerCeltic B Heart of Midlothian B Kilmarnock B Motherwell B Rangers B St Mirren B
League phase matches
Notes
League phase table
Second round The draw for the second round was made on 21 November at 1pm live on the SPFL YouTube channel.
Draw Teams that enter the competition in the second round. Airdrieonians Arbroath Ayr United Dunfermline Athletic Greenock Morton Partick Thistle Queen's Park Raith Rovers Ross County St Johnstone
Matches
Third round The draw was made on 11 December at 1pm live on the SPFL YouTube channel.
Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals.
Teams in italics were not known at the time of the draw.
ChampionshipLeague OneLeague TwoAirdrieonians Arbroath Ayr United Partick Thistle Queen's Park Raith Rovers Ross County St JohnstoneEast Fife Inverness Caledonian Thistle Montrose Queen of the South StenhousemuirForfar Athletic Stirling Albion Stranraer
Matches
Quarter-finals The draw was made on 15 January at 1pm live on the SPFL YouTube channel.
Teams in bold advanced to the semi-finals.
ChampionshipLeague OneAirdrieonians Arbroath Ayr United Queen's Park Raith Rovers St JohnstoneInverness Caledonian Thistle Stenhousemuir
Matches
Semi-finals The draw was made on 15 January at 1pm along with the quarter-final draw.
Matches
Final
References
External links