Reigning champions Connacht will open up their Guinness Pro12 campaign against 2014/15 winners Glasgow Warriors at The Sportsground.
Connacht's exciting and open brand of rugby helped them to clinch their first-ever Pro12 title last season, though the Warriors will be out for revenge after being beaten by Pat Lam's men in the semi-final.
The game has a 5.15pm kick-off on Saturday, 3 September.
Elsewhere in Round 1, last year's finalists Leinster welcome Benetton Treviso to the RDS, and 2016 European Player of the Year nominee Charles Piutau could appear in an Ulster shirt for the first time at home to Newport Gwent Dragons.
Both of these ties will be held on the Friday night, with 7.35pm starts.
Munster, under new boss Johan Erasmus and with Paul O’Connell on board as an advisor, open up their campaign with a trip to Scarlets on the Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Cardiff Blues entertain Edinburgh and Zebre will head to the Ospreys on the opening weekend.
New for the forthcoming season, 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 first 'Big Weekend' will take place in Round 6 with the clash between Leinster and Munster (Saturday, 8 October) at the Aviva Stadium headlining a weekend that also includes Connacht v Ulster (Friday, 7 October).
The championship will climax on Saturday, 27 May 2017 with the venue, city and ticket information for the final to be announced in due course.
