Cardinals vs Panthers Hall of Fame Game 2026: Start Time, Channels and Streaming Guide
The Cardinals vs Panthers Hall of Fame Game 2026 kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 6. NBC carries it nationally. Peacock streams it live.
Bottom line: turn on NBC at 7:00 p.m. ET for the pre-game show. Or wait until 8:00 p.m. ET for kickoff. No cable at home? Peacock has you covered.
This is the first NFL game of the 2026 season. It is the only game played in Canton all year.
Cardinals vs Panthers Hall of Fame Game 2026 Quick Facts
| Matchup | Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers |
| Date | Thursday, August 6, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Pre-game show | 7:00 p.m. ET, Football Night in America |
| Venue | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium |
| City | Canton, Ohio |
| TV channel | NBC |
| Live stream | Peacock |
| Home team | Arizona Cardinals |
| Starting QBs | Carson Beck (ARI), Kenny Pickett (CAR) |
| Play-by-play | Mike Tirico |
| Analyst | Cris Collinsworth |
| Sideline | Melissa Stark |
| Rules analyst | Terry McAulay |
What Time is the Hall of Fame Game 2026 in Your Time Zone
Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. ET. Here is that time everywhere else.
| Time zone | Kickoff |
|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 8:00 p.m. Thursday |
| Central (CT) | 7:00 p.m. Thursday |
| Mountain (MT) | 6:00 p.m. Thursday |
| Phoenix, Arizona (MST) | 5:00 p.m. Thursday |
| Pacific (PT) | 5:00 p.m. Thursday |
| Alaska (AKDT) | 4:00 p.m. Thursday |
| Hawaii (HST) | 2:00 p.m. Thursday |
| UK (BST) | 1:00 a.m. Friday |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 2:00 a.m. Friday |
| Eastern Australia (AEST) | 10:00 a.m. Friday |
Arizona fans, read this twice. Arizona does not observe daylight saving time. Your kickoff is 5:00 p.m. local, not 6:00 p.m. That is the same clock time as Los Angeles. Set your reminder for five.
What Channel is the Cardinals vs Panthers Hall of Fame Game On
The game airs on NBC. That is your answer.
NBC begins coverage at 7:00 p.m. ET with Football Night in America. You get a full hour of build-up before the opening kickoff. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth call the action, the same booth you hear on Sunday nights.
Here is every way to watch.
| Platform | What you get | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NBC | Full national broadcast | Free over the air with an antenna |
| Peacock | Live stream of the NBC feed | Subscription required |
| Fubo | NBC channel stream | Free trial for new users |
| YouTube TV | NBC channel stream | NBC sits in the base plan |
| NFL+ | Mobile stream | Phone and tablet only |
| NBC Sports app | Live stream | Needs a TV provider login |
Cutting cable? Peacock is your simplest route. Sign in before 7:45 p.m. ET so you are not fighting kickoff traffic.
One honest note. NBC is a broadcast network. If you own a digital antenna, you can watch this game for nothing. Check your local NBC affiliate channel number first.
Where the Hall of Fame Game is Played
The game runs at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The stadium sits right beside the Pro Football Hall of Fame museum.
This game has opened the NFL preseason since 1962. No other regular NFL fixture is played in Canton.
The result does not count toward either team’s preseason record. It is a true exhibition. Treat the scoreboard as background noise.
Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and Why These Two Teams
The NFL does not pick these teams at random. Each year the matchup follows the incoming Hall of Fame class.
This year both franchises have a one-club legend going in.
| Inductee | Team connection |
|---|---|
| Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona Cardinals, entire career |
| Luke Kuechly | Carolina Panthers, entire career |
| Drew Brees | Chargers, Saints |
| Adam Vinatieri | Patriots, Colts |
| Roger Craig | 49ers, Raiders, Vikings |
Fitzgerald spent all 17 of his seasons in Arizona. Kuechly played all eight of his in Carolina before retiring at 28. Neither man ever wore another uniform. That is why these two clubs are in Canton tonight.
Kuechly packed a lot into those eight years. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. He made seven Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro squads.
All five inductees are recognised on the field during pre-game. The full enshrinement ceremony follows on Saturday. Including this class, the Hall of Fame now holds 387 members.
Who is Playing in the Hall of Fame Game
Set your expectations first. Starters are not playing in this game. Both head coaches confirmed it this week.
That is normal. Both teams face four preseason games instead of three. Coaches protect their front-line players.
Carolina Panthers
Kenny Pickett starts at quarterback. Bryce Young sits, along with every other established starter. Head coach Dave Canales confirmed the plan on Monday.
Pickett is 28. He backed up Geno Smith in Las Vegas last season and started two games. He has also played for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Watch for undrafted rookie Haynes King after Pickett. King is expected to handle most of the second half.
First-round tackle Monroe Freeling, the 19th overall pick, is also sitting out.
Carolina arrives off an 8-9 season. That record still won the NFC South, decided by a three-way tiebreaker over Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The Panthers then lost their Wild Card game to the Rams, 34-31.
Arizona Cardinals
Carson Beck starts for Arizona. He is a third-round rookie out of Miami and he did not see it coming.
Beck is not the real starter. Jacoby Brissett holds that job, with Gardner Minshew behind him. Neither veteran is expected to play a snap tonight. Kedon Slovis is also on the roster.
This is the first game of the Mike LaFleur era. The Cardinals rebuilt after a 3-14 season. Jonathan Gannon was let go. Kyler Murray is no longer on the roster. LaFleur arrives from the Rams.
Tight end Trey McBride still anchors the offence. He caught 126 passes in 2025, breaking the NFL single-season record for a tight end. The old mark was 116, set by Zach Ertz in 2018. McBride added 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns and made first-team All-Pro. He is not expected to play tonight either.
Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love will not play. LaFleur ruled out the third overall pick on Wednesday.
Watch the backups. This game is about roster spots, not results.
Cardinals vs Panthers Head to Head History
These teams met in Week 2 of the 2025 regular season at State Farm Stadium. Arizona won 27-22. The Cardinals built a 27-3 lead and then survived a late Carolina push.
Arizona makes its sixth trip to Canton tonight. The Cardinals hold a 1-3-1 record in previous appearances. Their last visit came in 2017.
The franchise also played the very first Hall of Fame Game. That was August 11, 1962, against the New York Giants, more than a year before the museum opened. It finished 21-21.
Carolina makes only its second appearance. The Panthers played here in 1995 as an expansion team, against fellow newcomer Jacksonville.
What to Watch For Tonight
- The first snap of the Mike LaFleur era in Arizona
- Carson Beck’s first NFL action, and whether he pushes Minshew for the QB2 job
- Haynes King running Carolina’s offence through most of the second half
- Marvin Harrison Jr. looking for a bigger role in year three
- Special teams work, where late cuts get decided
Roughly 90 players per team report to camp. Only 53 survive. Tonight is the first real audition for the men on the edge.
What Comes Next After the Hall of Fame Game
The football does not stop on Thursday.
| Event | Date | Time (ET) | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2026 Enshrinement | Saturday, August 8 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN and NFL Network |
| Cardinals vs Raiders | Thursday, August 13 | 8:00 p.m. | NFL Network |
| 2026 season opener | Wednesday, September 9 | Prime time | NBC and Peacock |
The regular season kicks off with the Patriots facing the Seahawks on September 9.
FAQ About the Cardinals vs Panthers HOF Game 2026
Can the Hall of Fame Game end in a tie?
Yes, the Hall of Fame Game can end in a tie. The NFL abolished overtime in preseason games starting in 2021. If the score is level after four quarters, the game simply ends. The 1962 Hall of Fame Game between the Cardinals and Giants finished 21-21, one of only two ties in the event’s history.
Has the Hall of Fame Game ever been cancelled?
Yes, the Hall of Fame Game has been cancelled three times. Officials called off the 2016 game between the Packers and Colts hours before kickoff because paint on the playing surface hardened and made the field unsafe. The 2011 game fell to the NFL lockout. The entire 2020 preseason was cancelled during the pandemic.
Who won the 2025 Hall of Fame Game?
The Los Angeles Chargers won the 2025 Hall of Fame Game, beating the Detroit Lions 34-7 on July 31 in Canton. Quarterback Trey Lance threw for 120 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first Hall of Fame Game appearance for either franchise since the 1990s.
Do Hall of Fame Game stats count toward NFL career records?
No, Hall of Fame Game stats do not count toward NFL career records. Preseason statistics are tracked separately from regular season totals. Nothing a player does in Canton appears in his official career numbers. The result also stays out of both teams’ preseason win-loss records.
Why do the Cardinals and Panthers play four preseason games?
The Cardinals and Panthers play four preseason games because Hall of Fame Game participants get one extra exhibition contest. Every other team plays three. Both clubs also get to open training camp early, up to 15 days before their first preseason game, which gives them extra practice time ahead of the season.
How can international fans watch the Hall of Fame Game 2026?
International fans can watch the Hall of Fame Game 2026 through NFL Game Pass on DAZN, which carries the NFL preseason in most countries outside the United States. NBC and Peacock are US only. Kickoff lands at 1:00 a.m. Friday in the UK and 10:00 a.m. Friday in eastern Australia.
When is the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony?
The Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony is at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 8, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. ESPN and NFL Network both carry it live. You can stream it on the ESPN App or NFL+, with Spanish-language coverage on ESPN Deportes. Full enshrinement viewing guide here.
The Cardinals vs Panthers Hall of Fame Game 2026 starts at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC. Peacock streams it if you have no cable.
Do not expect polished football. Expect rookies, backups and roster battles.
Then come back Saturday. Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly get their gold jackets at noon.
