How to play FM26 beta - Last chance to play Football Manager 26 before release

Gamers still have time to play Football Manager 26 before it releases on November 4. Sports Interactive's hugely-popular sports management simulator has been available in early access for nearly two weeks - but time is running out.

It's been two long years since the last iteration hit digital stores. From the disappointing cancellation of FM25 to the controversial build-up to the release of this year's game, fans have been put through the wringer. Ever since FM26 has been live In early access, people have enjoyed the overhaul of tactics and new match engine. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

Players have taken issue with the new, refreshed UI. It's very different, leading to people and content creators expressing their frustration with the new look on social media.

You can see what we think about Football Manager 2026 and the new user-interface in our review.

Fans can still help to improve the experience in the days leading up to release by taking part in the FM26 beta. Here is everything you must know about the beta before launch day.

When is FM26 early access?

The beta went live on Thursday, October 23 at 5pm BST. Early access comes to an end on Tuesday, November 4.

How to access the FM26 beta

It turns out playing the Football Manager 26 beta is a relatively straightforward process: all you need to do is pre-order the game.

Unfortunately, however, early access is only available to PC and Mac users, which means console users will have to wait a little longer to start playing.

It's also worth noting that your progress will carry over to the full release, so don't hold back.

How to pre-order FM26

• Football Manager 26 on PC: Steam, Epic Games and Windows (£45) - click here for more details
• Football Manager 26 Console: Xbox Series X/S and PS5 (£44.99)