Football season is right around the corner, and so is Madden 26. Here is everything you need to know about the release date and start times.
Ahead of Madden 26’s worldwide release, EA Sports revealed some of the new features fans can expect. For example, the weather has a more significant impact on games, QB DNA matches the same behaviors of star NFL quarterbacks, and Coach DNA replicates the philosophies of the league’s greatest minds.
As for ratings, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Saquon Barkley were among a group of seven players to recieve a 99 overall, and Patrick Mahomes didn’t make the cut. Meanwhile, rookies also got their ratings, with Cam Ward getting a shockingly low 72 overall rating. Let’s take a look at when you can see these players on the field.
Madden 26 Release Date
Madden 26 officially releases on August 14.
The official release date doesn’t account for the three days of early access that come with the Deluxe Edition of the game. In addition, EA Play members get a 10-hour trial of the game, starting on August 7.
The EA Play trial is an excellent way to try out the game before committing to a full purchase, and it also launches seven days before the official release date. With EA Play, you also save 10% on EA digital purchases, including Madden Points, and get monthly Ultimate Team packs.
Madden 26 Official Start Times
Madden 26 releases at 9:00 AM PDT on August 14, and the Premium Edition launches at 9 AM PDT on August 11—with other regions also following soon after.
Below are release times and dates for key time zones worldwide, including the United States, Australia, and more.
| Time Zone | Release Times & Dates |
|---|---|
| Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) | 9:00 AM—August 14 |
| Central Daylight Time (CDT) | 11:00 AM—August 14 |
| Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) | Noon—August 14 |
| British Summer Time (BST) | 5:00 PM—August 14 |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) | 2:00 AM—August 15 |
Is this one of your most anticipated games of the year? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Forums.
In other sports gaming news, NHL 26 unveiled its cover athlete, and EA CEO Andrew Wilson claimed that a college basketball game would include “all 350 programs.”
