Reigning champions Connacht will launch the defence of their Guinness PRO12 title against Glasgow Warriors at The Sportsground on Saturday, 3 September - live on Sky Sports.
Connacht stunned the division with their maiden title win, beating Leinster in the final and the Warriors - the 2014-15 champions - in the semis.
New for the forthcoming 2016-17 season, Championship organisers have designated six 'Big Weekends' across the season that will comprise of special intra-union derby matches as well as capitalising on the rivalry between the Italian and Scottish clubs.
The 'Big Weekends' will include signature match-ups such as the 1872 Cup Scottish derby, the annual Leinster v Munster game at the Aviva Stadium, the Italian derby and the double-header Judgement Day matches between the Welsh regions.
Elsewhere in Round 1, Leinster host Treviso on Friday 2 September, Ulster take on Newport Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys tackle Zebre.
Cardiff take on Edinburgh the following day, as well as Connacht's opener with Glasgow. And Munster have a trip to Scarlets that evening, another game you can see live on Sky Sports.
The first 'Big Weekend' round will take place in Round 6 with the clash between Leinster and Munster at the Aviva Stadium headlining a weekend that also includes Connacht v Ulster, Scarlets v Dragons, Ospreys v Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh v Treviso and Zebre v Glasgow.
Opening fixtures:
Fri 2 September
Leinster v Treviso
Ospreys v Zebre
Ulster v Newport Gwent Dragons
Sat 3 September
Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh
Connacht v Glasgow
Scarlets v Munster
The final round of fixtures of 6 May will see a series of derbies, with Glasgow facing Edinburgh, Munster hosting Connacht, the Dragons taking on Cardiff Blues, the Scarlets playing the Ospreys, while Ulster play Leinster and Zebre tackle Italian rivals Leinster.
The semi-finals and final will all be shown live on Sky Sports.