TL;DR
- Winter Wildcards launches December 19, 2025 with three new Heroes and Ronaldinho SBC
- Promos release Fridays at 1 PM ET (6 PM BST/10 AM PT) with weekly content updates
- Team of the Year (January 16, 2026) and Team of the Season (April 24, 2026) are major power curve events
- World Cup 2026 likely brings special Path to Glory campaign in June 2026
- Strategic resource saving and market timing maximize promo value and team upgrades
EA FC 26 Ultimate Team introduces a fresh competitive landscape where promotional campaigns serve as the primary driver of squad progression and engagement. These limited-time events systematically release enhanced player cards, challenging objectives, and rewarding Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) that collectively shape the game’s evolving meta. Understanding promo mechanics becomes essential for building competitive squads without excessive coin investment.
Promotional campaigns function as structured content drops that typically span one to two weeks, though major events like Shapeshifters can extend across multiple squad releases. Each promo carries a distinctive theme that influences card designs, stat boosts, and available content. The strategic importance lies in how these events progressively elevate the power curve – each new campaign introduces players with superior attributes that gradually render previous squads less competitive.

Beyond simply providing new cards, promos introduce dynamic gameplay elements like live items that receive stat upgrades based on real-world performances. This creates engaging long-term investment opportunities where strategic acquisitions during early promo phases can yield significant returns as players excel in actual matches.
Common mistakes include overspending on early promo cards that depreciate rapidly, neglecting SBC value calculations, and failing to anticipate market crashes before major content drops. Advanced players optimize by tracking release patterns and preparing resources accordingly.
Our comprehensive EA FC 26 promotional calendar synthesizes historical release data with confirmed scheduling information to provide the most accurate forecast available. This living document will receive regular updates as EA announces new campaigns throughout the game’s annual cycle.
| Promo | FC 25 Start Date | FC 26 Expected Start Date | Confirmed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team of the Week (TOTW) | Every Wednesday | Every Wednesday | Yes |
| Cornerstones | – | September 26, 2025 | Yes |
| Ratings Reload | – | October 10, 2025 | Yes |
| Pepsi Promo | October 16, 2024 | October 16, 2025 | Yes |
| Ultimate Scream | – | October 24, 2025 | Yes |
| UEFA Primetime | November 8, 2024 | November 7, 2025 | Yes |
| Festival of Football: Captains | – | November 14, 2025 | Yes |
| FC Pro Live | November 22, 2024 | November 21, 2024 | Yes |
| Thunderstruck | November 29, 2024 | November 28, 2025 | Yes |
| Joga Bonito | – | December 5, 2025 | Yes |
| Unbreakables | – | December 12, 2025 | Yes |
| Winter Wildcards | December 20, 2024 | December 19, 2025 | Yes |
| Team of the Year (TOTY) | January 17, 2025 | January 16, 2026 | No |
| Future Stars | January 31, 2025 | January 30, 2026 | No |
| Fantasy FC | February 28, 2025 | February 27, 2026 | No |
| UT Birthday | March 7, 2025 | March 6, 2026 | No |
| Team of the Season | April 25, 2025 | April 24, 2026 | No |
| Path to Glory (World Cup 2026 Campaign) | June 27, 2025 | June 3, 2o26 | No |
| FUTTIES | July 11, 2025 | July 24, 2026 | No |
| Pre-Season | August 15, 2025 | August 14, 2026 | No |
The upcoming Winter Wildcards campaign launches December 19, 2025, bringing festive content including three new Hero items and potential Ronaldinho SBC opportunities. This holiday-themed event typically features daily objectives, limited-time packs, and special player items with boosted winter-themed attributes.
With 2026 being a FIFA World Cup year, EA Sports may secure temporary licensing for an official tournament integration. If licensing proves challenging, expect World Cup-themed content under alternative branding, potentially through the Path to Glory framework that previously covered international competitions.

Seasoned players should anticipate filler campaigns like Shapeshifters and Showdown Series bridging gaps between major promotions. These secondary events often provide excellent value for completing specific squads or addressing positional needs.
Mastering promotional cycles requires strategic resource allocation and market timing awareness. Coins, fodder cards, and untradeable resources should be conserved leading into major events to maximize acquisition potential for top-tier players.
Optimal preparation involves building coin reserves 2-3 weeks before anticipated major promos like Team of the Year. Market prices typically dip during content releases as players open packs and list duplicates, creating prime buying windows 24-48 hours after promo launch.
Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) represent the most cost-effective method for obtaining promo players. Prioritize SBCs with favorable cost-to-stat ratios, typically those requiring 83-85 rated squads with specific chemistry constraints.
Common strategic errors include liquidating entire clubs for single players, neglecting long-term squad balance, and overinvesting in meta cards that depreciate rapidly. Instead, diversify investments across multiple promos and maintain flexible squads that can incorporate new acquisitions.
Advanced team-building tactics involve identifying undervalued player archetypes before meta shifts. For example, physical defenders often gain value when promos introduce rapid attackers, creating counter-meta opportunities.
Time management during promos proves crucial – dedicate 15-20 minutes daily to complete time-sensitive objectives and check new SBC requirements. Major events like TOTY may require 3-5 hours weekly for optimal engagement across all available content.
Live card promotions like Road to the Knockouts introduce dynamic investment opportunities where player ratings evolve based on real-world performances. These items typically offer the best long-term value when acquired early from nations or clubs with favorable matchups.
Evolution integration with promos creates powerful synergy – certain promo cards become eligible for stat-boosting evolutions, effectively doubling their value proposition.
Power curve progression follows predictable patterns: minor bumps during weekly promos, significant jumps during TOTY/TOTS, and stabilization phases during summer events.
Friday content drops at 1 PM ET (6 PM BST/10 AM PT) consistently deliver fresh content, though not necessarily new campaigns. EA frequently extends popular promos through multiple squad releases, as demonstrated by FC 25’s month-long Shapeshifters event.
Even during non-promo weeks, logging in Fridays remains essential for accessing new Evolutions, SBCs, and weekly challenges that accumulate toward long-term objectives.
For comprehensive team-building strategies beyond promos, explore our Class Guide for optimal player selection and squad composition strategies that complement promo acquisitions.
Successful Ultimate Team management extends beyond mere promo participation – it requires integrated planning across multiple game modes and content types. Our Complete Guide provides the foundational knowledge needed to maximize every promotional opportunity.
We’ll maintain this calendar with regular updates throughout EA FC 26’s lifecycle, ensuring you remain informed about upcoming content and strategic opportunities. The evolving nature of Ultimate Team means adaptability remains your greatest asset.
Action Checklist
- Save 50,000+ coins and high-rated fodder 2 weeks before major promos
- Check Friday content drops at 1 PM ET for new SBCs and objectives
- Complete daily login and simple objectives during promo weeks
- Monitor market prices 24-48 hours after promo launch for buying opportunities
- Prioritize SBCs with favorable cost-to-stat ratios
- Bookmark this calendar and check back monthly for updated promo schedules
No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » EA FC 26 Ultimate Team Promo Calendar – All Expected Events with Release Dates Complete guide to EA FC 26 promo calendar with release dates, strategies, and team-building insights
