Hibernian vs Hearts April 26 2026: Edinburgh Derby Score, Lineups & Scottish Prem Title Race on the Line Hibernian vs Hearts — the Edinburgh derby — is back, and this time the stakes couldn’t be higher. Hearts FC, sitting top of the Scottish Prem on 70 points, travel to Easter Road to face Hibernian FC in what is arguably the most important derby match in a generation. With Celtic breathing down their necks after going level on points on Saturday, every single minute of this hibs vs hearts clash matters enormously.
Whether you’re tracking the hearts score today, the hibs score today, or just want to understand exactly what’s riding on this hibs game today — you’re in the right place. We’ve got confirmed lineups, head-to-head history, a full match breakdown, and everything you need to know about what this result means for the title race.
Buckle up. This is not your average Edinburgh derby.
Hibernian vs Hearts Score Today — April 26, 2026
The hibs hearts score today at Easter Road, kick-off 11:30 AM ET / 4:30 PM BST:
- Hibernian FC vs Heart of Midlothian FC
- Venue: Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Competition: Scottish Premiership — Championship Group, Round 34
- Kick-off: 15:30 UTC / 11:30 AM ET
This is the final Edinburgh derby of the 2025–26 Scottish Premiership season, and it’s landing at the most dramatic possible moment. For live updates, check SSA or BBC Sport’s match centre — but for the full story of why this game matters so much, keep reading.
The scoreline alone won’t tell you half the story. What’s happening around this match in the title race is genuinely extraordinary — and it changes everything about how both teams approach today.
Why This Hibs vs Hearts Game Is Bigger Than Any Derby Before It
Let’s put this into context, because the numbers are staggering. Hearts are top of the Scottish Premiership on 70 points — but they’re now level with Celtic, who beat Falkirk 3–1 on Saturday to pile the pressure on before this Sunday clash. Rangers sit just one point behind on 69. Three teams. Three points separating them. Five games to go.
The last time a club outside Rangers or Celtic won the Scottish Premiership was Aberdeen in 1984–85 — managed by some bloke called Alex Ferguson. Hearts haven’t won the top-flight title since 1959–60. That’s 66 years of waiting. If Heart of Midlothian FC are going to end that drought, they cannot afford to drop points in Edinburgh today.
And here’s what makes it even more dramatic: Derek McInnes, the Hearts manager, described this Edinburgh derby as potentially the “most dramatic fixture you can have.” He’s not wrong. A Hearts win today keeps them in the driving seat. A loss could hand the psychological edge — and potentially the title — to either Celtic or Rangers. A draw? Almost as bad.
The pressure on Hearts FC today is unlike anything this club has felt in decades. And Hibs know exactly how much power they hold in this moment — which brings us to how both teams line up.
Confirmed Lineups: Hibs FC vs Hearts FC
Hibernian FC Starting XI (3-4-1-2)
- GK: Raphael Sallinger
- DEF: Warren O’Hora, Rocky Bushiri, Jordan Obita
- MID: Felix Passlack, Daniel Barlaser, Miguel Chaiwa, Nicky Cadden
- AM: Jamie McGrath
- FWD: Owen Elding, Martin Boyle
Unavailable for Hibs: Grant Hanley (suspension), Josh Mulligan (injury).
Heart of Midlothian FC Starting XI (4-4-2)
- GK: Alexander Schwolow
- DEF: Michael Steinwender, Craig Halkett, Stuart Findlay, Stephen Kingsley
- MID: Jordi Altena, Beni Baningime, Marc Leonard, Pierre Landry Kabore
- FWD: Claudio Braga, Lawrence Shankland
Unavailable for Hearts: Oisin McEntee (injury), Tómas Magnússon (injury), Craig Gordon (injury), Eduardo Ageu (injury), Calem Nieuwenhof (injury), Finlay Pollock (injury). A long injury list — but Hearts still have their most dangerous attacking players available.
The key battle to watch? Lawrence Shankland against Hibs’ back three. The Hearts striker has 13 goals in 24 appearances this season — and he saved his best for big occasions. If Hibs can keep him quiet, they’re halfway to a result. If they can’t, this could get ugly fast.
Form Guide: Who Goes Into Hibs v Hearts Today in Better Shape?
Hibernian FC Recent Form
Hibs head into this hibs game off the back of a 2–0 defeat away to Aberdeen at Pittodrie — a result that summed up a difficult few weeks for David Gray’s side. They managed just one shot on target, had 47% possession, and looked short of ideas going forward.
The hibs score in that game was damaging enough, but the manner of it was even more concerning. Hibs are 5th in the Championship Group standings on 51 points — which means European football next season isn’t fully secured yet. They have their own reasons to want a positive result today, even if the title race doesn’t directly concern them.
Heart of Midlothian FC Recent Form
Hearts come into this on the back of a 3–1 home win over Motherwell at Tynecastle — a performance that showed exactly why they’ve been top for most of this season. Claudio Braga, Lawrence Shankland, and Pierre Landry Kabore all scored in that one. Dominant at home. The problem? Their away form.
Hearts have now gone four straight away games without a win — drawing 2–2 at Livingston after leading twice in one of those. That statistic is exactly what Hibs will be targeting today. Easter Road isn’t Tynecastle. The atmosphere will be hostile. The pressure will be immense. And Hearts’ inability to close out games on the road this season is the one glaring weakness in an otherwise title-winning campaign.
So which version of Hearts shows up today — the ruthless home side or the vulnerable away team? That’s the £64 million question.
Hibernian vs Hearts Head-to-Head History
The Edinburgh derby is one of the oldest and most intense rivalries in world football. The first match between the clubs was played on Christmas Day 1875 — Hearts won 1–0, naturally. Here’s how the all-time record looks:
- Total meetings: 97 competitive matches
- Hibernian wins: 25
- Hearts wins: 40 (including 24 in the modern era H2H tracked by major sites)
- Draws: 32
- Average goals per game: 2.35
Hearts have the better overall record — but Hibs have their moments. The record derby victory belongs to Hibs: a 7–0 win at Tynecastle on New Year’s Day 1973. On the other hand, Hearts once won 10–2 in a friendly when Hibs returned from a brief spell out of the game. These clubs don’t do boring.
In the most recent meetings this season, Hearts claimed a 1–0 win at Tynecastle — their home ground. The Edinburgh derby has not ended in a draw in the last five meetings. Which means a draw today would actually be the surprise result — and for Hearts, in this title race, it might feel almost as bad as losing.
But here’s the stat that really matters for today: Hibs at Easter Road is a completely different proposition to Hibs away from home. The home atmosphere, the packed terrace, the hostile crowd — all of it tilts things slightly. Can Hearts handle it when the title is on the line? History says they can. But history also said they couldn’t challenge for a title in the first place.
Scottish Prem Title Race: What Does Today’s Result Actually Mean?
Here’s the full picture of the Scottish Prem title race heading into Round 34:
- Hearts — 70 points (21W, 7D, 5L)
- Rangers — 69 points (only lost twice all season)
- Celtic — 70 points (after Saturday’s 3–1 win over Falkirk)
Celtic and Hearts are now level. Rangers are one behind. Five games to go. Every single result ripples through the table immediately.
If Hearts win today: They move three points clear of Celtic and four ahead of Rangers. They’d go into their home match against Rangers at Tynecastle next week with a genuine cushion. The title would be firmly in their hands — though not yet mathematically secured.
If Hibs win today: Celtic move two points clear at the top. Rangers would be level with Hearts. The momentum would shift dramatically. Hearts’ away form weakness would be exposed at the worst possible time, and McInnes’ side would suddenly be fighting not just for the title but against the very real fear of blowing a lead they’ve held for most of the season.
If it’s a draw: Celtic stay ahead. Rangers stay one back. Hearts remain under pressure. Given their away form, a draw might actually be the “acceptable” result — but with Celtic having already played and gained three points, even a draw feels inadequate for a team that wants to win a first title since 1960.
The Opta supercomputer, for what it’s worth, gives Rangers the best chance of winning the league — despite Hearts leading. Their resilience over a full season (only two league defeats) is the factor the data models respect most. But stats don’t account for moments like this. And this is one of those moments.
Key Players to Watch in Hibs v Hearts Today
Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)
The Hearts captain and striker has 13 goals in 24 appearances this season — and he showed exactly what he can do with a goal against Motherwell last time out. In an away game with this much pressure, Shankland is either going to be the hero or the villain. He’ll get chances. Whether he takes them is what defines Hearts’ season.
Martin Boyle (Hibernian)
The Australian winger is Hibs’ most dangerous attacking player — fast, direct, and capable of creating something from nothing. Against a Hearts backline that has shown vulnerability on the road, Boyle in space is exactly the kind of threat that can decide an Edinburgh derby. Expect him to be a constant thorn in Hearts’ side.
Claudio Braga (Hearts)
The Hearts forward has been one of the revelations of the Scottish Premiership this season — 4 goals in the last 10 games and consistently involved in everything the team does going forward. Alongside Shankland, he gives Hearts a two-striker partnership that very few defences in Scotland have been able to handle effectively this year.
Nicky Cadden (Hibernian)
Cadden has created the most big chances for Hibs this season (8), and his ability to find pockets of space and pick out runners in behind could be crucial against a Hearts side that doesn’t always defend their wide areas well when stretched on their away trips. If Hibs are going to cause an upset today, Cadden is likely to be at the heart of it.
Practical Guide: How to Follow Hibs vs Hearts Today
Where to Watch Hibs v Hearts Today
- UK: Sky Sports Football (live, with full build-up and post-match analysis)
- USA/International: ESPN+ (check local listings)
- Live scores: BBC Sport, Sky Sports, Flashscore, Sofascore, FotMob
- Radio: BBC Radio Scotland (available online via BBC Sounds)
Match Timeline to Know
- Pre-match build-up: From 3:00 PM BST on Sky Sports
- Kick-off: 4:30 PM BST / 11:30 AM ET
- Half-time: Approximately 5:15 PM BST
- Full-time: Approximately 6:30 PM BST
If you’re following the hearts score today or the hibs score today in real time, FotMob and BBC Sport’s live score page are the fastest and most reliable options for push notifications and minute-by-minute updates.
What Hearts Winning the Title Would Mean for Scottish Football
Let’s zoom out for a second, because the context here is genuinely historic. The Scottish Premiership has been owned by Celtic and Rangers for decades. Celtic have won 13 of the last 14 titles. The last time any other club lifted the trophy was Aberdeen under Alex Ferguson in 1985 — over 40 years ago.
Heart of Midlothian FC winning this title wouldn’t just be a triumph for the club. It would be one of the most significant achievements in Scottish football history. A club that was literally in administration in 2013, rescued by supporter ownership, rebuilt from the ground up, and now challenging for the biggest prize in the domestic game. It would be the kind of story that makes football special.
That’s the weight Derek McInnes and every Hearts player carries today. Every tackle, every corner, every moment of hesitation carries the ghost of 1960. They’ve earned the right to be here. But earning it and finishing the job are two very different things — as today will demonstrate one way or another.
Final Thoughts: Our Take on Hibs Hearts Today
This hibs vs hearts match is the centrepiece of a Scottish Premiership weekend that could define the entire title race. Hearts are the better team over the course of the season — their 70-point haul doesn’t lie. But Easter Road is a difficult venue, their away form has been genuinely worrying, and Hibs have every reason to make life as difficult as possible.
Hibs aren’t in great form either — that Aberdeen defeat was concerning. But at home, in a derby, with the chance to be the team that derails a historic Hearts title challenge? Motivation won’t be an issue for David Gray’s side.
Our read: this is a tight one. Hearts have the quality. Hibs have the home advantage and the hunger. Expect a tense, physical, low-scoring affair — exactly the kind of match the title race doesn’t need for Hearts, but might just deliver anyway. Don’t expect a five-goal thriller. Do expect every kick to matter.
Whatever happens at Easter Road today, the title race isn’t over. But it might be significantly closer to being decided. Check back for our full post-match report and analysis — and follow FinesseDaily for all the latest hearts score, hibs score, and Scottish football coverage as the season reaches its dramatic conclusion.