When Will Football Manager 26 Be Released?

When Will Football Manager 26 Be Released?

It is one of the most popular and hotly-anticipated games on the market at the moment, with fans waiting over two years for a new instalment to a beloved series. Yes, it is of course Football Manager 26 - the era-defining football management simulation that remains one of the most popular football games on the planet, for loves of all things strategy and wonderkid.

After the delay and eventual cancellation of Football Manager 25 left avid managers with only FM 24 to subside their needs on the touchline, many have been eagerly awaiting the return of the series with 26, with various reveal trailers ramping up the excitement at a rate of knots.

With an overhauled graphics system, brand-new UI and a whole host of new features, only one question has been left unanswered on the minds of gaffers around the world - when is it out? Thankfully, the lengthy wait for an answer has finally come to a close.

When Is The FM26 Launch Date?

In a nutshell, the 4th of November 2025, with the pre-launch beta (which for many marks the effective launch of the game anyway) launching no later or earlier than two weeks before that date, the latest being the 21st of October.

The date for the official launch (not the beta) was revealed on the Sports Interactive website. However, popular Football Manager streamer Jack Peachman (AKA WorkTheSpace) noticed beforehand that the full launch date was originally posted as being 21st of October, which fell exactly two weeks before the launch date stated in a revised version of the announcement shortly after.

Peachman went on to claim that the release date originally posted could in fact be the launch date for the pre-access beta, but went on to reveal that the original launch date was intended to be the 21st of October, but the launch had been pushed back by two weeks, essentially revealing that the announcement from Sports Interactive had been drafted earlier on before this pushback, but had not been updated before it was released.

I've had multiple sources confirm that October 21st was originally planned as the release date for FM26, but the game was recently pushed back by two weeks.

I think this means that the press release error was just a case of it being drafted a while ago and not being updated. https://t.co/VLREEJdX4Q

— Jack (@WorkTheSpace) September 26, 2025

An official launch date for the beta has not yet been revealed, but the full game will absolutely launch on the 4th of November. The beta ordinarily launches no less than two weeks before the full release of the game, which means the game will be available to access and play for the first time no later than the 21st of October - many believe, as this date was originally left in error on the Sports Interactive announcement, that this could be the un-intentionally official release date for the beta.

How Much Will Football Manager 26 Cost?

On Steam, where most players tend to pick up their copy of new Football Manager releases, the new instalment of the series will set you back £49.99. However, you can get it now at a price of £44.99 if purchased before the official release date of November 4th.

The price of Football Manager games can fluctuate depending on where you get it from. Loaded, formerly know as CDKeys, currently retail the game at £31.99. However, you won't get access to the beta with this purchase, and will only be able to start your first saves when the game launches in full on November 4th.