[4] On 10 April 2021, Hearts earned automatic promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, having been in first place for most of the season.

Hearts had reached the semi-finals of the 2019–20 Scottish Cup before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped all football activity in Scotland during the previous season.

On 20 December, they lost the 2020 Scottish Cup Final to Celtic in a penalty shootout following a 3–3 draw after extra time.

Win Draw Loss Postponed Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland forcing an October start to the Scottish Championship season,[7] the length of the league was reduced from thirty-six to twenty-seven games.

[8] The fixture list for the truncated Championship was announced on 29 July,[9] starting with a home game against Dundee.

[25] Following football being suspended indefinitely during the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[26] Manager Daniel Stendel advised the club he would not take any wages during the closed period and returned to Germany.

[27] Stendel's contract included a clause which rendered him a free agent should the club be relegated.