The biggest football video game franchise is back with this year's installment of the game. Madden 26 has been announced and will release on Thursday, August 14, during the NFL preseason.
Despite claims that the game has become a yearly roster update, it remains one of the highest-selling video games each year. This year, Super Bowl champion running back Saquon Barkley will represent the Eagles on the cover of the iconic video game. Philly fans may be worried about the Madden curse rearing its head again, but for now, we can focus on the updates and tweaks that EA Sports has made for the new year.
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Here is a look at a round-up of all of the information about Madden 26, including release date, trailer, pre-order bonuses and more.
MORE: Why Saquon Barkley was selected as the Madden 26 cover athlete
Madden 26 release date
- Date: August 14
Madden 26 will officially release on Thursday, August 14. If you pre-order an edition of the game that gives you early access, that will start its usual three days before on Monday, August 11.
Madden 26 trailer
Here is the official trailer for Madden 26.
Here is the teaser trailer that EA Sports released for both Madden 26 and College Football 26.
Madden 26 price and College Football 26 'MVP Bundle'
- MVP Bundle (Madden 26 & College Football 26 deluxe edition): $149.99
- Madden 26 deluxe edition price: $99.99
- Madden 26 standard edition: $69.99
EA Sports typically released two versions of Madden, a deluxe and a standard. With the reincarnation of the college football video game series, EA Sports now offers an MVP bundle, which gives more bonuses and now includes the deluxe edition for both Madden 26 and College Football 26.
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Madden 26 pre-order bonuses
Here are the various pre-order bonuses for Madden 26.
MVP edition
- Madden 26
- College Football 26 (8 pre-order bonuses for that game)
- 3 Day Early Access
- Early Access Challenges (MUT)
- 4600 Madden Points
- Season 1 Elite Item
- Cover Athlete Elite Item
- Super Star XP Boost
- Franchise Coach Ability Points
- Player Card Exclusive Item
- Bundle Content Elite Item
Deluxe edition
- Madden 26
- 3 Day Early Access
- Early Access Challenges (MUT)
- 4600 Madden Points
- Season 1 Elite Item
- Cover Athlete Elite Item
- Super Star XP Boost
- Franchise Coach Ability Points
- Player Card Exclusive Item
- Bundle Content Elite Item
Standard edition
- Madden 26
- MUT Cover Athlete Elite Player Item
- Franchise Coach Ability Points
- Super Star Legendary XP Boost
Madden 26 player ratings
Player ratings tend to be released closer to the release date. EA Sports usually does a big rollout that involves revealing the ratings and even getting players' reactions to certain attributes.
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Madden 26 new features
This section will be updated when details are released.
Former quarterback turned streamer Kurt Benkert is high on this year's game. Streamers will get the opportunity to look at the game early and give their opinions. These should be taken with a grain of salt, but Benkert has set lofty expectations for the game, saying it will "be the best Madden game to date" and "will be the most immersive Madden we've ever seen." The former quarterback promised that long-overdue changes to the popular franchise mode are coming.
This will be the best Madden to date imo. Nostalgia of old Maddens aside, this WILL be the most immersive Madden we’ve ever seen. From gameplay, to franchise, to navigating the menu in an easier way.
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) June 3, 2025
I’m excited. https://t.co/ksjYOWpEmA
What consoles is Madden 26 on?
Madden is following in the footsteps of other games in 2025 and releasing solely on next-gen (let's be honest, it has been four and a half years, we can should be calling it current gen).
For the first time ever, Madden will be coming to the new Nintendo Switch 2.
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC via EA app for Windows, Steam, & Epic Games Store
- Nintendo Switch 2
Madden 26 cover
The cover athlete for Madden 26 is Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
The cover photo features Barkley's legendary backwards hurdle that took the football world by storm when he pulled it off in a game against the Jaguars on November 3, 2024.
Saquon Barkley's no-look hurdle is reportedly going to be on the cover of Madden 26 🔥
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) June 2, 2025
pic.twitter.com/LJF1hWlSgM
How to play Madden 26 early
EA Sports is once again bringing back its early access for pre-orders of the deluxe edition or MVP edition. The standard release will be on Thursday, August 14, but early access will begin three days prior on Monday, August 11.
Another way that you can play early is if you subscribe to EA Play. This service is $5.99 per month or $39.99 per year. It provides you with discounts to EA video games, in-game purchases and also comes with 10 hours of demo time. If it is the same as last year, even if you pre-order the standard edition, if you have EA Play, you should be able to play for 10 hours once early access begins on the 11th. EA Play Pro is a more in-depth version that costs $16.99 a month or $119.99 per year.