When does FPL start? 2026/27 launch date prediction
When is FPL back? We look at the latest clues and past release dates to predict when Fantasy Premier League 2026/27 could launch
The 2026 World Cup is over and attention is now turning towards the new Premier League season, which means Fantasy Premier League managers are also asking the same question: when is FPL back?
The official Fantasy Premier League website has stated that the FPL 2026/27 game will launch later this summer, but has not yet provided a specific release date.
That has left managers trying to work out when FPL will launch by looking at the Premier League calendar, previous release dates and the timing of the last two seasons.
Here is everything we know so far.
When is FPL starting in 2026/27?
There is currently no official FPL 2026/27 launch date.
However, the 2026/27 Premier League fixtures have been revealed, and the season will begin on Friday, August 21, 2026, when Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City in the opening fixture.
The Premier League has confirmed that the 2026/27 campaign will begin one week later than the previous season, partly because of the congested international calendar and the need to provide players with more recovery time after the 2026 World Cup in North America that has only just reached its conclusion.
While there is no mention of FPL 2026/27’s launch date, the new fixtures and Fixture Difficulty Ratings already available for managers to start planning their squads.
When will FPL launch? Our prediction
Based on the available evidence, FPL 2026/27 is likely to launch during the week beginning July 20, we just don’t know which specific day.
In this timeframe, managers would have around one month to build their squads before the opening Gameweek deadline on August 21, which matches the timing of FPL launches in recent seasons.
The 2025/26 game became available on July 21, while the 2024/25 edition was released on July 17. The latter followed the 2024 European Championship. The 2026 World Cup final was played on Sunday, July 19. That makes the current week a particularly logical window for the FPL game to return.
Our best estimate is that FPL 2026/27 could launch on Wednesday, July 22, or Thursday, July 23, or even Monday, July 27, although that remains speculation until an official announcement is made.
What do previous FPL launch dates tell us?
Looking back at recent seasons provides some useful context.
| Season | FPL launch date | Days before Gameweek 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | June 23 | 51 |
| 2022/23 | July 5 | 32 |
| 2023/24 | July 5 | 37 |
| 2024/25 | July 17 | 30 |
| 2025/26 | July 21 | 25 |
The launch window has varied considerably, but recent seasons have generally seen FPL become available around three to four weeks before the opening Premier League fixtures.
The 2024/25 season start is particularly relevant because it followed another major international tournament in the form of Euro 2024.
FPL launch date after Euro 2024
The 2024/25 FPL game became available on July 17, 2024, shortly after the European Championship final.
Spain beat England in the Euro 2024 final on July 14, and the new Fantasy Premier League game launched just three days later.
That suggests that the conclusion of a major international tournament does not necessarily mean a long wait before the new FPL season begins.
Why could FPL 2026/27 launch later than usual?
The 2026 World Cup could have an impact on the timing of the new Fantasy Premier League season.
The tournament was played immediately before the new Premier League campaign, with the World Cup final taking place on July 19 and the opening Premier League fixture scheduled for August 21.
That gives players who reached the later stages of the tournament only a relatively short period before the domestic season begins.
The Premier League has already confirmed that the new campaign will start later than usual as part of efforts to provide more recovery time in an increasingly crowded football calendar.
When will FPL 2026/27 player prices be revealed?
The exact date for the release of FPL 2026/27 player prices has not been officially confirmed.
In recent seasons, player price announcements have often acted as a major clue that the launch of the new game is approaching. Price reveals could therefore begin shortly before the game becomes available to the public.
Managers should also keep an eye on the new FPL Player Price Predictor, among the new FPL 2026/27 features. The tool will track transfer activity and provide an indication of which players could be in line for a price rise or fall once the season begins.
When is FPL back? Latest update
For now, the official answer is that FPL 2026/27 will launch later this summer, with no exact date confirmed.
However, the Premier League season begins on August 21 and recent launch patterns suggest that Fantasy Premier League should return several weeks beforehand.
With the World Cup now over, the most likely window appears to be the week beginning July 20.
We will update this article as soon as the official FPL 2026/27 launch date is announced.
