The 2025/26 season is well and truly behind us, the 2026/27 fixtures have been released and, with the World Cup drawing to a close, attention is rapidly turning back to Fantasy Premier League.
The FPL game is now expected to launch soon, meaning player prices, position changes and the first Gameweek 1 drafts could be just days away. That makes now the perfect time to get up to speed with everything happening before the new campaign begins.
From transfer deadlines to the opening Gameweek and beyond, here are the key summer dates every Fantasy Premier League manager should have in their diary ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
This is the big one.
FPL rarely gives managers much warning before the game goes live, so the exact launch date is usually a guessing game. However, there is normally a familiar pattern.
First, the site enters its update phase. Then comes the real sign that things are close: player price reveals.
FPL usually drip-feeds a selection of prices across social media, with big-name players and popular assets used to build excitement. Once those price reveals begin, it is often a strong indication that the full game launch is not far away.
Last season, FPL 2025/26 launched on 21 July, just 25 days before Gameweek 1. With the 2026 World Cup final taking place on Sunday 19 July, there is a good chance FPL may avoid launching until after.
A launch around Wednesday 22 July would make sense, although that is only an estimate for now.
Either way, once the first batch of player prices starts appearing, FPL managers will know it is nearly time to start building those first drafts.
The summer transfer window is already well underway and is set to have a major impact on early FPL planning.
Premier League clubs have been able to complete transfers since 15 June, with the window remaining open until 23:00 BST on Tuesday 1 September.
Unlike last summer, there is no additional Club World Cup transfer window to factor in. However, with the World Cup only just concluding, some deals could still be delayed while players return from international duty.
For FPL managers, the key is not to become too attached to early drafts. New signings, late transfers and changing pre-season roles can quickly alter the appeal of players before Gameweek 1.
The 2026/27 Premier League fixtures have now been released, giving FPL managers their first real opportunity to start planning for Gameweek 1.
With the opening schedule confirmed, attention has turned to identifying the teams with the best early runs, spotting favourable fixture swings and assessing which clubs offer the strongest value at both ends of the pitch.
If you haven't already, be sure to check out our FPL Fixtures First Look: The Teams Managers Should Target Early article, where we analyse the opening fixtures using the Fixture Planner from the Preseason Pack to highlight the best attacking and defensive schedules, as well as the teams worth targeting in your initial drafts.
The 2026/27 Premier League season will begin on Friday 21 August, with Arsenal hosting Coventry City at 20:00.
The main Saturday schedule follows on Saturday 22 August, with Hull City v Manchester United at 12:30, before Everton v Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town v Sunderland and Nottingham Forest v Leeds United at 15:00. Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur then rounds off the day at 17:30.
On Sunday 23 August, Brighton and Hove Albion host Aston Villa at 14:00, while Manchester City face Bournemouth at the same time. Newcastle United v Liverpool is the standout late fixture at 16:30.
The opening Gameweek then concludes on Monday 24 August, with Fulham v Chelsea at 20:00.
The later start should give players more recovery time after the World Cup, but it also means FPL managers will need to move quickly once the game launches. With the opening fixtures now confirmed, early planning can start to take proper shape, especially around teams with strong Gameweek 1 matchups and favourable early runs.
There is also the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday 12 August, with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain facing Europa League winners Aston Villa. That could be worth noting from an FPL perspective, especially when assessing Aston Villa players’ minutes, fitness and early-season workload.
The September and October international windows will be merged into one longer break during the 2026/27 season.
That means there will be a three-week gap between Gameweek 5 and Gameweek 6, which is 21st September to 6th October 2026.
This could have a big impact on early-season FPL strategy. Managers may be more willing to attack the first five Gameweeks with short-term picks, knowing there is a natural pause shortly afterwards to reassess injuries, transfers, form and minutes.
The November and March international breaks are expected to continue as normal.
Looking further ahead, the AFC Asian Cup is scheduled for January 2027.
That may feel a long way off, but it could become relevant once FPL managers start assessing long-term picks, especially if key Premier League players are likely to be involved.
As always, tournament absences can create both problems and opportunities in FPL, so it is something to keep in mind once squads and dates become clearer.
The FPL 2026/27 launch date is still unknown, but the countdown is already underway.
The fixtures, transfer window and player price reveals will all shape the first wave of drafts, and the World Cup adds another layer to an already busy summer.
As soon as FPL begins releasing player prices, expect things to move quickly. That is usually the clearest sign that the game launch is just around the corner.
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