In Fantasy Premier League, Bench Boost adds the points from your four substitutes to the next Gameweek total, so all 15 players in the squad score in that Gameweek. In 2026/27, managers get two Bench Boost chips, one in each half of the season.
What Bench Boost does
Without the chip, bench points do not go straight into your total. They count only when a starting player does not play and an eligible substitute comes in through automatic substitution.
With Bench Boost active, that changes for one Gameweek. The official help wording describes it as scoring points from all 15 players in the squad for that Gameweek.
Bench Boost rules for 2026/27
Here are the official Bench Boost rules for the season.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chips per season | 2 |
| Effect | Points of the four substitutes count too |
| First chip | From the start of your season to the Gameweek 19 deadline |
| Second chip | After the Gameweek 19 deadline |
| Where it is played | Pick Team page, when saving the team |
| Cancelling | Any time before the Gameweek deadline |
The key part of the 2026/27 setup is the split across two parts of the season. The first Bench Boost is available from the start of your season until the Gameweek 19 deadline, and the second becomes available after that deadline.
In the official schedule as of 15 September 2026, the Gameweek 19 deadline is 18:30 on Friday 1 January 2027 UK time, which is 02:30 on Saturday 2 January 2027 Beijing time. The Gameweek 20 deadline is 18:00 on Tuesday 5 January 2027 UK time. Deadlines can still change, but not within 24 hours of the scheduled time.
When bench points count without the chip
These are the official cases for bench points.
| Situation | Bench points counted |
|---|---|
| No chip, every starter plays | None |
| No chip, a starter does not play | An eligible substitute replaces him, in bench order |
| Bench Boost played | All four substitutes |
Automatic substitutions are processed at the end of the Gameweek. If a goalkeeper does not play, the substitute goalkeeper replaces him if he played; if an outfield player does not play, the highest-priority outfield substitute who played comes in, as long as the move does not break formation rules.
Formation still matters. If your starting team has 3 defenders, that non-playing defender can only be replaced by another defender. A player is treated as having played in a Gameweek if he appears on the pitch or receives a yellow or red card.
How to play it, cancel it, and chip limits
Bench Boost is played on the “Pick Team” page when you save your team. It can be cancelled at any time before the Gameweek deadline.
Only one chip can be active in a Gameweek, so Bench Boost cannot be used together with a Wildcard in the same Gameweek. The official chips guide also says the first-half Bench Boost could be used in Gameweek 1 or straight after a Wildcard, because the Wildcard gives unlimited transfers to build a 15-man squad, but the one-chip-per-Gameweek rule still applies.
The same guide defines Blank and Double Gameweeks in rule terms. In a Blank Gameweek, at least one Premier League club, usually more, has no league fixture; in a Double Gameweek, at least one club, usually more, has two league fixtures. It also says Free Hit can help in Blank Gameweeks, while Double Gameweeks are typically popular for Bench Boost and Triple Captain.
FAQ
Can you cancel Bench Boost?
Yes. You can cancel it after activating it on the “Pick Team” page, as long as the Gameweek deadline has not passed.
After the deadline, the chip status for that Gameweek is locked in.
Can you use Bench Boost and Wildcard in the same Gameweek?
No. The rules allow only one active chip in a Gameweek.
That means Wildcard and Bench Boost cannot run together in the same round, and the official FAQ uses that exact combination as an example.
When can you play the second Bench Boost?
The second Bench Boost becomes available only after the Gameweek 19 deadline has passed.
In the official schedule as of 15 September 2026, that point comes after 18:30 on Friday 1 January 2027 UK time.
How many Bench Boost chips are there in 2026/27?
There are two. The first covers the period from the start of your season to the Gameweek 19 deadline, and the second covers the period after that deadline to the end of the season.
So the season gives managers one Bench Boost in each half.