The autumn sports pileup is officially here.
On 6 September 2026, PickPlay rolled out its platform update for the 2026/27 sports calendar. Circle leaderboards have reset for a new season with new leagues and new games. If you want to bet with friends on European soccer or Sunday football, the refreshed platform is open. No spreadsheets required.
What's new: a new season, new leagues, and new games
The 2026/27 update expands PickPlay across seven core sports, adding full fixture lists for handball, European basketball, and hockey.
The calendar is packed.
Competitions now live or scheduled across the app include:
- European Soccer: All 380 Premier League matches, plus La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and the UEFA Champions League 36-team league phase.
- Gridiron Football: The 2026 NFL campaign, opening with the Patriots visiting the Seahawks on the FOX Sports Week 1 slate.
- European Basketball: The expanded 20-team, 38-round EuroLeague calendar starting 24 September 2026.
- Handball: Germany's 18-team Handball-Bundesliga featuring 306 fixtures and three-way 1X2 outcomes.
- Ice Hockey: The NHL expanded 84-game schedule alongside Swedish SHL and Finnish Liiga action.
- Tennis: Active Grand Slam fixtures at the US Open, where the tour wraps up the final major of the calendar.
| Sport | Prediction Format | Special Multiplier Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Soccer | 1X2 (Home / Draw / Away) | Banker pick (2× points if right, 0 if wrong) |
| NFL & NBA | Straight Winner | Lock of the Week (2× points if right, 0 if wrong) |
| Handball | 1X2 (Home / Draw / Away) | Banker pick |
| Ice Hockey | Straight Winner (includes OT/SO) | Lock |
| Tennis | Straight Match Winner | Banker pick |
How to use it: set up your 2026/27 circle in four steps
Starting or renewing a circle takes less than two minutes from your main dashboard.
It is dead simple.
- Create your circle: Log in, click "Create Circle", select your chosen sport or a multi-sport lobby, and choose your season duration.
- Invite your group: Share your private circle link or QR code directly into your group chat.
- Lock in selections: Submit match picks before the official kickoff, tip-off, or throw-off. All selections stay hidden from rivals until the match begins.
- Challenge rivals directly: Use the head-to-head battle tab to stake virtual points against one specific friend on any headline game.
Why we built it: fixing fantasy fatigue and multi-app chaos
Sports pools became a chore when fans had to manage waiver wires, salary caps, and three separate login portals.
Nobody has time for that.
Traditional fantasy formats require constant squad maintenance, bench substitutions, and daily injury tracking. PickPlay strips that away so groups focus on picking winners using odds-weighted scoring. Predicting a heavy underdog or a rare handball draw converts into substantial leaderboard climbs. Safe favourite calls earn modest returns.
Upsets pay out big.
When you want to bet against friends, you shouldn't have to risk real rent money.
Opinion: fantasy waiver wires ruined casual social sports, and picking real match outcomes fixes the fun.
What's next: tournament brackets and winter leagues
Upcoming platform releases will introduce cup brackets and extra tournament features before November.
More features are coming.
Circle commissioners will soon gain custom point weighting options, alongside bracket views for mid-season knockouts such as our 2026/27 UCL guide coverage. Ice hockey followers can track rosters through our Leon Draisaitl extension analysis before the NHL ice hockey hub opens picks on 29 September 2026.
Bottom line: round up your crew for the new season
The 2026/27 campaign is officially underway, bringing a new season, new leagues, and new games straight to your private leaderboard. Set up your prediction circle, invite your rivals, and see who actually knows their sports when kickoff arrives. Create your circle on PickPlay and claim bragging rights today.
